NameCensus.

UK surname

Jeffers

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Jeffrey, meaning "peace" or "divine peace."

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Jeffers surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,358, ranked #4,439, up from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Birmingham and Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jeffers is 1,358 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 426.4%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

1,358

2016, ranked #4,439

Peak year

2016

1,358 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jeffers had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,358 in 2016, ranked #4,439.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 421 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Jeffers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jeffers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jeffers 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 153 #12,721
1861 historical 259 #9,561
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 421 #9,141
1911 historical 414 #9,062
1997 modern 1,145 #4,901
1998 modern 1,177 #4,963
1999 modern 1,231 #4,811
2000 modern 1,199 #4,908
2001 modern 1,171 #4,920
2002 modern 1,170 #5,012
2003 modern 1,175 #4,892
2004 modern 1,217 #4,759
2005 modern 1,217 #4,701
2006 modern 1,207 #4,746
2007 modern 1,242 #4,683
2008 modern 1,243 #4,704
2009 modern 1,297 #4,618
2010 modern 1,346 #4,550
2011 modern 1,317 #4,584
2012 modern 1,292 #4,599
2013 modern 1,322 #4,585
2014 modern 1,344 #4,537
2015 modern 1,331 #4,538
2016 modern 1,358 #4,439

Geography

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Where Jeffers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, St Marylebone and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Birmingham, Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig, Luncarty and Dunkeld and Aylesbury Vale. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 042 Leeds
2 Birmingham 041 Birmingham
3 Braeside, Branchton, Lower Larkfield and Ravenscraig Inverclyde
4 Luncarty and Dunkeld Perth and Kinross
5 Aylesbury Vale 007 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jeffers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jeffers

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Jeffers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Jeffers 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Jeffers 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

Jeffers is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jeffers falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jeffers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Jeffers

The surname Jeffers is of English origin, stemming from the medieval French personal name "Geoffroi," derived from the Germanic elements "ge" (district) and "frid" (peace), meaning "peace district." It is believed to have been introduced to England during the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Jeffers date back to the 13th century, with references found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it was spelled as "Geffreys." Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Jeffreys, Jeffries, and eventually, Jeffers.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name was Sir John Jeffreys (c. 1290-1355), a prominent English judge and Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Edward III. His family held lands in Swell, Gloucestershire, and the nearby village of Jeffreys Green was named after them.

Another historically significant figure was George Jeffreys (1645-1689), better known as the "Hanging Judge" for his brutal treatment of defendants during the Bloody Assizes following the Monmouth Rebellion against James II. His ruthless verdicts earned him infamy and contributed to the overthrow of James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the literary realm, John Jeffers (1887-1962), an American poet and playwright born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, gained renown for his works such as "Roan Stallion," "Tamar and Other Poems," and "The Double Axe." His poetry often explored themes of the natural world and the human condition.

The name Jeffers can also be found in historical records from other parts of England, including the parish registers of Reculver, Kent, where the surname appears as early as the 16th century. In Devonshire, the Jeffers family held lands in the parish of Holsworthy, with records dating back to the 17th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Jeffery (1625-1688), an English politician and member of parliament for Beeralston, Devonshire, during the reign of Charles II. He was knighted in 1675 and served as the High Sheriff of Devonshire in 1683.

While the surname Jeffers has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by migrants and descendants of English settlers. Today, the name can be found in various countries, with each branch having its own unique history and connections to the original English lineage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jeffers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jeffers 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. Lancashire leads with 102 Jeffers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.40x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 102 3.40x
Middlesex 43 1.70x
Durham 21 2.79x
Cheshire 11 1.97x
Surrey 11 0.89x
Essex 10 2.01x
Lanarkshire 9 1.10x
Kent 7 0.81x
Renfrewshire 7 3.58x
Hampshire 5 0.97x
Herefordshire 4 3.86x
Somerset 4 0.98x
Yorkshire 4 0.16x
Angus 2 0.85x
Derbyshire 2 0.51x
Glamorgan 2 0.45x
Midlothian 2 0.59x
Suffolk 2 0.65x
Warwickshire 2 0.31x
Anglesey 1 2.23x
Cumberland 1 0.46x
Dorset 1 0.60x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.36x
Northumberland 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 3.32x
Sussex 1 0.23x
Wiltshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Over Darwen in Lancashire leads with 17 Jeffers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.98x.

Place Total Index
Over Darwen 17 70.98x
Everton 14 14.65x
St Marylebone London 13 9.64x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 37.80x
Clerkenwell London 9 15.09x
Hackney London 9 6.35x
Salford 9 10.21x
Halliwell 8 73.33x
Heworth 8 54.02x
Little Clacton 8 1509.43x
Liverpool 8 4.39x
Manchester 8 5.93x
Stockton On Tees 8 22.08x
Govan 7 3.46x
Kirkham 7 176.77x
Latchford 7 189.19x
West Derby 7 7.98x
West Greenock 7 19.92x
Newington 6 6.43x
Battersea 4 4.30x
Brampton Bryan 4 1081.08x
Dymchurch 4 833.33x
Gateshead 4 7.11x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.73x
Frome 3 30.83x
Kirkdale 3 5.95x
Warrington 3 8.44x
Barony 2 0.97x
Chester St Oswald 2 19.80x
Christchurch 2 17.81x
Derby All Sts 2 60.61x
Dundee 2 2.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.47x
Lancaster 2 11.21x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 36.36x
Norwood 2 34.60x
Ryde 2 17.99x
St George Bloomsbury 2 13.80x
Staplegate 2 909.09x
Toxteth Park 2 1.97x
Acton 1 6.75x
Bingley 1 6.27x
Birmingham 1 0.47x
Brighton 1 1.16x
Bristol St James In 1 13.72x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 17.30x
Cardiff St Mary 1 4.13x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 6.64x
Fisherton Anger 1 24.15x
Great Ayton 1 65.36x
Hammersmith London 1 1.61x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 6.20x
Ingrave 1 222.22x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 11.60x
Islington London 1 0.41x
Lambeth 1 0.45x
Lewisham 1 2.18x
Llandysilio 1 71.43x
Longburton 1 303.03x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 2.37x
Millbrook 1 7.67x
Milverton 1 53.48x
Misterton 1 238.10x
Much Woolton 1 24.57x
Newburgh 1 769.23x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.13x
Newton 1 4.33x
Prescot 1 18.45x
Royal Navy 1 3.89x
Rusholme 1 12.50x
Sunderland 1 7.54x
Westminster St John 1 3.25x
Whitechapel London 1 4.02x
Whitehaven 1 8.63x
Wincanton 1 47.85x
Woodford 1 17.70x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Jeffers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jeffers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 258 people were recorded with the Jeffers surname. That placed it at #10,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jeffers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,358 in 2016. That gives Jeffers a modern rank of #4,439.

What does the Jeffers surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Jeffrey, meaning "peace" or "divine peace."

What does the Jeffers map show?

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