NameCensus.

UK surname

Jasper

A surname derived from the precious gemstone jasper, referring to a jewel worker or trader.

In the 1881 census there were 959 people recorded with the Jasper surname, ranking it #4,040 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,604, ranked #3,877, up from #4,040 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Callington, London parishes and Alternon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jasper is 1,741 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.3%.

1881 census count

959

Ranked #4,040

Modern count

1,604

2016, ranked #3,877

Peak year

1999

1,741 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jasper had 959 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,040 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,604 in 2016, ranked #3,877.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,423 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jasper surname distribution map

The map shows where the Jasper surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Jasper surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jasper over time

The 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 701 #3,723
1861 historical 663 #4,039
1881 historical 959 #4,040
1891 historical 1,135 #3,750
1901 historical 1,298 #3,839
1911 historical 1,423 #3,396
1997 modern 1,619 #3,659
1998 modern 1,690 #3,648
1999 modern 1,741 #3,585
2000 modern 1,719 #3,605
2001 modern 1,693 #3,590
2002 modern 1,731 #3,601
2003 modern 1,643 #3,679
2004 modern 1,628 #3,714
2005 modern 1,636 #3,662
2006 modern 1,598 #3,739
2007 modern 1,591 #3,785
2008 modern 1,615 #3,765
2009 modern 1,649 #3,786
2010 modern 1,676 #3,809
2011 modern 1,668 #3,775
2012 modern 1,615 #3,815
2013 modern 1,634 #3,849
2014 modern 1,658 #3,814
2015 modern 1,644 #3,797
2016 modern 1,604 #3,877

Geography

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Where Jaspers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Callington, London parishes, Alternon, Brighton and Petherwin, South. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Dudley. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Callington Cornwall
2 London parishes London 3
3 Alternon Cornwall
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Petherwin, South Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
2 Dudley 033 Dudley
3 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 012 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 067 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jasper

These lists show first names that appear often with the Jasper surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jasper

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jasper, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Jasper surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Jasper household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Jasper is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jasper is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jasper falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jasper is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Jasper, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jasper

The surname Jasper originated in England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French name "Jasper", which itself comes from the Persian name "Caspar" or "Gaspar", one of the three wise men or kings who visited the newborn Jesus according to the Bible. The name is thought to have originated from the Persian word "Ganzabara", meaning "treasurer".

The Jasper surname is believed to have first appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this record, the name was spelled as "Iasper" and referred to a landowner or tenant in the county of Norfolk.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Jasper was Sir William Jasper, who lived in the 13th century and held lands in the county of Gloucestershire. Another notable early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Jasper, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Jasper surname was associated with the town of Jasper, located in the county of Staffordshire. This place name may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in some regions.

During the 17th century, a prominent member of the Jasper family was John Jasper (1616-1672), an English Puritan minister who served as the Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He was known for his controversial theological writings and his support for the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.

Another notable figure was William Jasper (1750-1779), an American Revolutionary War hero who gained fame for his daring actions during the Siege of Savannah. He was born in South Carolina and is remembered for his bravery in retrieving the fallen flag of his regiment during the battle, an act that has been immortalized in numerous paintings and sculptures.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Jasper was Julia Jasper (1832-1901), an English author and poet known for her works on nature and rural life. She was born in Staffordshire and published several collections of poems, including "The Random Violets" and "The Poets' Birds".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jasper families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jasper surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 284 Jaspers recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.35x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 284 26.35x
Worcestershire 80 6.43x
Sussex 75 4.67x
Staffordshire 72 2.24x
Middlesex 60 0.63x
Devon 57 2.88x
Surrey 51 1.10x
Kent 41 1.26x
Suffolk 31 2.67x
Yorkshire 28 0.30x
Monmouthshire 27 3.92x
Essex 25 1.33x
Lancashire 24 0.21x
Warwickshire 19 0.79x
Denbighshire 18 5.00x
Shropshire 18 2.19x
Channel Islands 13 4.61x
Glamorgan 12 0.72x
Gloucestershire 8 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.66x
Norfolk 4 0.27x
Royal Navy 4 3.53x
Midlothian 3 0.24x
Somerset 3 0.20x
Cheshire 2 0.10x
Dorset 2 0.32x
Flintshire 2 0.78x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.92x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Cumberland 1 0.12x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.17x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Altarnun in Cornwall leads with 55 Jaspers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1466.67x.

Place Total Index
Altarnun 55 1466.67x
Brighton 45 13.90x
Kingswinford 42 35.99x
Callington 29 461.78x
Chatham 23 25.74x
Lezant 20 829.88x
South Petherwin 20 740.74x
Eastbourne 18 24.37x
Birmingham 17 2.12x
Stoke Damerel 17 12.26x
Madron Penzance 16 40.82x
Llangollen Cysyllte 15 638.30x
St Thomas Apostle 15 451.81x
Linkinhorne 14 186.42x
North Hill 14 405.80x
Everton 13 3.61x
St Helier 13 14.15x
St Mary Magdalene 13 164.14x
Battersea 12 3.43x
Gradley 12 199.67x
Kidderminster Foreign 12 68.26x
Hartlebury 11 148.65x
Kensington London 11 2.08x
Kidderminster Borough 11 15.12x
St Neot 11 258.82x
Chigwell 10 56.37x
Cradley 10 88.97x
Farnley In Bramley 10 84.89x
Newington 10 2.84x
Croydon 9 3.50x
Leeds 9 1.69x
Lower Mitton 9 82.12x
St Budeaux 9 145.87x
St Stephens By Saltash 9 193.97x
Kelsale 8 248.45x
Laneast 8 952.38x
Llanvetherine 8 1111.11x
St Germans 8 106.38x
Stourbridge 8 25.01x
Stoven 8 1860.47x
Dudley 7 4.63x
Edmonton 7 9.13x
Gelligaer 7 18.49x
Mile End Old Town London 7 3.45x
West Derby 7 2.12x
Ash Normandy 6 95.24x
Bow London 6 4.95x
Bromley London 6 2.86x
Lewannick 6 285.71x
Llanthewy Skirrid 6 1578.95x
Lower Cwmyoy 6 800.00x
Lt Wenlock 6 331.49x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 3.93x
Rushall 6 31.73x
Seaford 6 109.89x
St Austell 6 16.29x
West Ham 6 1.45x
Calstock 5 23.65x
Greenwich 5 3.30x
Poplar London 5 2.78x
St Teath 5 77.04x
Streatham 5 7.08x
Swansea St Thomas 5 30.03x
Beckbury 4 373.83x
Bristol St Paul In 4 8.04x
Faversham 4 12.91x
Gillingham 4 5.97x
Harwich St Nicholas 4 27.55x
Ipswich St Peter 4 25.62x
Lansallos 4 170.94x
Rowley Regis 4 4.47x
Royal Navy 4 4.12x
Totnes 4 34.51x
Treneglos 4 727.27x
West Teignmouth 4 26.39x
Wolverhampton 4 1.62x
Wombourn 4 67.11x
Harborne 3 2.91x
Marlesford 3 256.41x
Tormoham 3 3.58x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jasper surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 77
Elizabeth 50
Ann 27
Sarah 27
Jane 21
Emily 16
Emma 16
Annie 14
Ellen 12
Catherine 11
Hannah 11
Eliza 9
Edith 8
Louisa 8
Alice 7
Bessie 7
Florence 7
Margaret 7
Grace 6
Harriet 6
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Eleanor 4
Martha 4
Priscilla 4
Rose 4
Selina 4
Amy 3
Bertha 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Esther 3
Laura 3
Susan 3
Susanna 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizebeth 2
Emlin 2
Emmeline 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Julia 2
Lilian 2
Mehatable 2
Myra 2
Polly 2
Rosa 2
Rosina 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jasper surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 95
John 45
Thomas 43
George 31
Richard 27
Charles 22
Henry 21
James 19
Harry 12
Arthur 10
Robert 10
Edward 9
Frederick 9
Joseph 9
Walter 7
Alfred 6
Frank 6
Albert 4
David 4
Sampson 4
Samuel 4
Stephen 4
Bertie 3
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Enoch 2
Herbert 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Nicholas 2
Philip 2
Richd. 2
Sidney 2
Clement 1
Digory 1
Edgar 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Henery 1
Herateo 1
Jesse 1
M. 1
Machael 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Wm.T.Barney 1

FAQ

Jasper surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jasper surname in 1881?

In 1881, 959 people were recorded with the Jasper surname. That placed it at #4,040 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jasper surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,604 in 2016. That gives Jasper a modern rank of #3,877.

What does the Jasper surname mean?

A surname derived from the precious gemstone jasper, referring to a jewel worker or trader.

What does the Jasper map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jasper bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.