NameCensus.

UK surname

Jaye

A variant spelling of the English surname Jay, derived from the French place name Gié.

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Jaye surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 269, ranked #15,956, up from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Whitworth and St Leonard Bromley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Great Yarmouth, Westminster and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jaye is 272 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 320.3%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

269

2016, ranked #15,956

Peak year

2014

272 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jaye had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016, ranked #15,956.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 112 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jaye surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jaye surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jaye 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 90 #22,312
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 213 #16,948
1998 modern 215 #17,306
1999 modern 227 #16,834
2000 modern 233 #16,524
2001 modern 223 #16,765
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 227 #16,718
2004 modern 228 #16,723
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 225 #17,154
2008 modern 230 #17,033
2009 modern 237 #17,052
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 248 #16,735
2012 modern 265 #15,862
2013 modern 266 #16,098
2014 modern 272 #15,949
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 269 #15,956

Geography

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Where Jayes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Whitworth, St Leonard Bromley, Tunstall and Bedfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Great Yarmouth, Westminster, Dudley, Milton Keynes and Suffolk Coastal. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Whitworth Durham
3 St Leonard Bromley London (East Districts)
4 Tunstall Suffolk
5 Bedfield Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Great Yarmouth 009 Great Yarmouth
2 Westminster 001 Westminster
3 Dudley 006 Dudley
4 Milton Keynes 001 Milton Keynes
5 Suffolk Coastal 006 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jaye

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jaye

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jaye, 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 Jaye surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Jaye 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Jaye is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jaye is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jaye falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jaye is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Jaye

The surname JAYE has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "gai," meaning joyful or lively, which may have been used as a nickname or descriptive term for someone with a cheerful demeanor.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where a Richard Gaye was listed as a landowner. The spelling variations during this period included Gaye, Gay, and Jaye, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings before they became standardized.

In the 14th century, records show instances of the name appearing in various parts of England, suggesting a widespread distribution. For example, a Richard Jaye was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, while a Thomas Jaye was recorded in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1362.

The name JAYE is also associated with several notable historical figures. One such figure was John Jaye, a 16th-century English clergyman and author, born around 1520, who wrote several religious works, including "An Exposition of the Apostles' Creed" and "The Overthrow of the Gout." Another prominent individual was Sir Walter Jaye, a 17th-century English politician and landowner, born in 1603, who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton.

In the realm of literature, the name JAYE is linked to the renowned 18th-century English poet and essayist, John Gay, born in 1685. He is best known for his works such as "The Beggar's Opera" and "Trivia, or the Art of Walking the Streets of London."

Additionally, the surname JAYE has been associated with several notable places throughout history. For instance, the village of Gay Street in Somerset, England, is believed to have derived its name from the JAYE family who owned lands in the area during the medieval period.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname JAYE include Robert Jaye, a 15th-century English merchant and alderman of London, and Henry Jaye, a 17th-century English actor and playwright who worked with the renowned dramatist, William Shakespeare.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jaye families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jaye 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. Suffolk leads with 27 Jayes recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.51x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 27 35.51x
Hampshire 10 7.81x
Middlesex 8 1.28x
Durham 7 3.77x
Kent 5 2.35x
Surrey 4 1.31x
Sussex 2 1.90x
Lincolnshire 1 1.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tunstall in Suffolk leads with 15 Jayes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11538.46x.

Place Total Index
Tunstall 15 11538.46x
Aldershot 10 233.10x
Cretingham 9 12857.14x
Middridge 7 3888.89x
Bromley London 4 29.13x
Lambeth 4 7.35x
Woolwich 4 50.83x
Campsea Ash 3 3750.00x
Islington London 3 4.96x
Eastbourne 2 41.32x
Bexley 1 53.19x
Martin In Sleaford 1 588.24x
St Marylebone London 1 3.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
John 5
Robert 4
James 3
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Clarence 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Harvey 1
Henry 1
Joshua 1
Sydney 1
Thomas 1
Willm.Robt. 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Jaye households.

FAQ

Jaye surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jaye surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Jaye surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jaye surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016. That gives Jaye a modern rank of #15,956.

What does the Jaye surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Jay, derived from the French place name Gié.

What does the Jaye map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jaye 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.