NameCensus.

UK surname

Jefford

An English and Welsh habitational surname derived from the place name "Jeoffreyville" or "Geoffrey's town."

In the 1881 census there were 452 people recorded with the Jefford surname, ranking it #7,304 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 650, ranked #8,181, down from #7,304 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to West Ham,Wanstead, Axmouth, Roosdown and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Bradford and Cambridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jefford is 741 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.8%.

1881 census count

452

Ranked #7,304

Modern count

650

2016, ranked #8,181

Peak year

1998

741 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jefford had 452 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,304 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016, ranked #8,181.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 719 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jefford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jefford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jefford 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 325 #7,157
1861 historical 333 #7,646
1881 historical 452 #7,304
1891 historical 557 #6,807
1901 historical 610 #6,981
1911 historical 719 #5,942
1997 modern 717 #7,115
1998 modern 741 #7,172
1999 modern 730 #7,290
2000 modern 733 #7,237
2001 modern 707 #7,314
2002 modern 711 #7,419
2003 modern 692 #7,449
2004 modern 680 #7,575
2005 modern 667 #7,633
2006 modern 684 #7,510
2007 modern 671 #7,688
2008 modern 672 #7,711
2009 modern 705 #7,603
2010 modern 718 #7,631
2011 modern 704 #7,667
2012 modern 652 #8,057
2013 modern 667 #8,042
2014 modern 674 #8,018
2015 modern 656 #8,136
2016 modern 650 #8,181

Geography

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Where Jeffords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around West Ham,Wanstead, Axmouth, Roosdown, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Houghton Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Bradford, Cambridge and East Devon. 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 West Ham,Wanstead Essex
2 Axmouth, Roosdown Devon
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Houghton Regis Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 007 Neath Port Talbot
2 Neath Port Talbot 015 Neath Port Talbot
3 Bradford 011 Bradford
4 Cambridge 003 Cambridge
5 East Devon 005 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jefford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jefford

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Jefford is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Jefford 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

Jefford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jefford 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 Jefford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jefford

The surname Jefford is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "ge" meaning "near" and "ford" referring to a shallow place where a river or stream could be crossed. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a ford or crossing point over a body of water.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Variations of the name such as "Gefford" and "Jefforth" appear in this historical record, indicating the name's long-standing presence in the region.

During the 13th century, the name Jefford was associated with various places in England, including Jefford in Somersetshire and Gefford in Worcestershire. These place names likely contributed to the spread and establishment of the surname in different parts of the country.

One notable figure with the surname Jefford was Sir John Jefford (c. 1420-1489), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the Wars of the Roses. He served as a knight of the shire for Somersetshire and played a role in the conflict between the houses of York and Lancaster.

Another individual of historical significance was William Jefford (c. 1550-1615), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He is best known for his published works on theology and religious matters.

In the 17th century, the name Jefford was associated with the Jefford family of Wigan, Lancashire. This family owned substantial landholdings and contributed to the local community. One notable member was Robert Jefford (1635-1702), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the Mayor of Wigan in 1677.

The name Jefford also appeared in Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as "Jeffray" or "Jeffery." One prominent bearer was Sir George Jeffray (1638-1705), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland and later as a Lord of Session.

Lastly, in the 19th century, the Jefford surname was found in various parts of England and Wales, with families residing in counties such as Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Monmouthshire. Individuals like Thomas Jefford (1802-1876), a farmer and landowner in Gloucestershire, carried on the legacy of the name during this period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jefford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jefford 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. Devon leads with 87 Jeffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.46x.

County Total Index
Devon 87 9.46x
Dorset 55 18.96x
Middlesex 48 1.09x
Nottinghamshire 43 7.22x
Surrey 39 1.81x
Bedfordshire 35 15.30x
Kent 31 2.06x
Somerset 24 3.37x
Cornwall 17 3.40x
Staffordshire 13 0.87x
Hampshire 10 1.10x
Hertfordshire 9 2.95x
Gloucestershire 7 0.81x
Leicestershire 7 1.43x
Glamorgan 6 0.78x
Yorkshire 5 0.11x
Lincolnshire 3 0.42x
Monmouthshire 3 0.94x
Wiltshire 3 0.77x
Derbyshire 2 0.29x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Oxfordshire 1 0.37x
Roxburghshire 1 1.25x
Royal Navy 1 1.90x
Worcestershire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Axmouth in Devon leads with 19 Jeffords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1844.66x.

Place Total Index
Axmouth 19 1844.66x
Axminster 18 417.63x
Snenton 16 68.38x
Lyme Regis 15 432.28x
Houghton Regis 14 383.56x
Newington 12 7.35x
Camberwell 11 3.90x
Islington London 11 2.57x
Hawnes 10 709.22x
Musbury 10 1234.57x
St Stephen In Brannel 10 219.30x
Canterbury St Mary 9 88.93x
Mansfield 9 43.67x
St Albans St Stephen 9 338.35x
St Pancras London 9 2.53x
Great Mongeham 7 985.92x
Leicester St Margaret 7 5.86x
Portsea 7 3.94x
Radford 7 23.13x
St Gilesin Fields London 7 187.17x
Stockland 7 526.32x
Trent 7 985.92x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 28.48x
Limehouse London 6 12.37x
Luton 6 15.15x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 6 372.67x
Bermondsey 5 3.80x
Bridport 5 83.75x
Broadway 5 434.78x
Charlton Horethorne 5 694.44x
Deal 5 38.88x
East Stonehouse 5 27.59x
Hackney London 5 2.02x
Horfield 5 57.34x
Llantwit Lower 5 73.96x
Nottingham St Mary 5 3.25x
Roche 5 196.85x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 3.16x
Sutton In Ashfield 5 38.67x
Allington 4 154.44x
Bradpole 4 168.07x
Chislehurst 4 49.51x
Rotherhithe 4 7.33x
Tormoham 4 10.28x
Wayford 4 1176.47x
Wells St Cuthbert In 4 366.97x
Battersea 3 1.85x
Bracebridge 3 93.17x
Burton Bradstock 3 209.79x
Burton Upon Trent 3 8.60x
Devonport 3 28.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 3.37x
Hatherleigh 3 131.00x
Milton In Gravesend 3 13.27x
Mywyddyslwyn 3 389.61x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 4.23x
Powerstock 3 241.94x
Salisbury St Martin 3 73.71x
Sherborne 3 35.13x
Trentham 3 23.64x
Uplyme 3 217.39x
Bow London 2 3.55x
Clifton 2 4.57x
Dunstable 2 28.45x
Exeter Heavitree 2 29.15x
Fordington 2 32.00x
Friern Barnet 2 20.56x
Lambeth 2 0.52x
Millbrook 2 8.77x
Sculcoates 2 2.88x
St George In East London 2 4.81x
Sundon 2 350.88x
Sutcombe 2 317.46x
West Bromwich 2 2.34x
Wootton Fitzpaine 2 588.24x
Yetminster 2 185.19x
Acton 1 3.86x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.86x
Egg Buckland 1 63.69x
Yardley 1 6.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 19
Alice 11
Eliza 8
Ann 7
Annie 7
Jane 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Caroline 5
Emily 5
Harriet 5
Susan 5
Ada 4
Florence 4
Charlotte 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Ruth 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Flora 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Maud 2
Albina 1
Amelia 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Burtha 1
Constance 1
Drusilla 1
Edith 1
Euphenia 1
Fanny 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Livinia 1
Lucy 1
Lusey 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 26
Thomas 18
George 14
Henry 14
Robert 12
Charles 11
James 10
Frederick 8
Joseph 8
Walter 7
Edward 6
Samuel 6
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Abraham 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Moses 3
Sydney 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Joe 2
Chas. 1
Chas.Geo.H. 1
Claude 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Elrick 1
Fredric 1
Isaac 1
Isaiah 1
Jeffery 1
Jeremaihy 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Johnathan 1
Laurence 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Sampson 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Jefford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jefford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 452 people were recorded with the Jefford surname. That placed it at #7,304 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jefford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 650 in 2016. That gives Jefford a modern rank of #8,181.

What does the Jefford surname mean?

An English and Welsh habitational surname derived from the place name "Jeoffreyville" or "Geoffrey's town."

What does the Jefford map show?

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