UK surname
An English and French surname derived from the given name James.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Jame surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Babingley and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jame is 406 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.8%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
67
2016, ranked #33,884
Peak year
1861
406 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jame surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jame surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 406 | #6,320 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 340 | #10,062 |
| 1901 | historical | 62 | #27,252 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 40 | #35,395 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 54 | #34,700 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 67 | #33,884 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Babingley, Paddington, St Pancras and Newport Pagnell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | Babingley | Norfolk |
| 3 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Newport Pagnell | Buckinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jame surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jame, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Jame surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jame household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Jame is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jame is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jame, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname JAME has its origins in medieval France, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French name "Jacques," which was the French form of the Hebrew name Jacob, meaning "supplanter" or "one who follows."
In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared as "Jame" or "Jamme" in various medieval French records and documents. One notable example is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the name "Jame" is listed among the landowners in Normandy.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including "Jamey," "Jaimie," and "Jamieson." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic differences.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname JAME was Sir Robert Jame, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Alexander III and is mentioned in several historical records from that era.
In the 15th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Jame, an English scholar and clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Bedford from 1432 to 1461. His writings and sermons were widely circulated during his lifetime.
During the Renaissance period, the name JAME gained further prominence with the likes of Pierre Jame, a French painter and engraver who lived from 1504 to 1576. His intricate engravings and woodcuts are still admired by art historians today.
In the 17th century, one of the most notable figures with the surname JAME was Sir Thomas Jame, an English politician and landowner who served as a member of Parliament for Worcestershire from 1628 to 1629.
Another significant individual was Robert Jame, a Scottish mathematician and astronomer born in 1668. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and authored several influential works on astronomy.
As the name JAME spread throughout Europe and beyond, it also became associated with various place names and geographical locations. For instance, the village of Jamesfield in Scotland is believed to have derived its name from the JAME surname, reflecting the historical presence of families bearing this name in the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jame surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 10 James recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 10 | 2.56x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.73x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 8.42x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 3.92x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 5.00x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 8.18x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.27x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.23x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.25x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 13.81x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.75x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.59x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.76x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.52x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.02x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 6 James recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.84x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Little Bolton | 6 | 100.84x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 19.11x |
| Sudbury St Gregory | 4 | 1052.63x |
| Isham | 3 | 6000.00x |
| Swaffham | 3 | 612.24x |
| Clifton | 2 | 51.68x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 20.81x |
| Aston | 1 | 3.69x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 16.95x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 5.90x |
| Braddan | 1 | 250.00x |
| Brighton | 1 | 7.54x |
| Brixton | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Burnley | 1 | 25.64x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 16.95x |
| Chislehurst | 1 | 140.85x |
| Finchley | 1 | 66.67x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 30.86x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 47.62x |
| Scilly Islands | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Todmorden Walsden | 1 | 80.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jame surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jame surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jame households.
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Jame surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Jame a modern rank of #33,884.
An English and French surname derived from the given name James.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jame bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.