NameCensus.

UK surname

Jeffrey

A surname derived from a medieval given name, a variant of Geoffrey, which comes from German meaning "peaceful pledge."

In the 1881 census there were 5,525 people recorded with the Jeffrey surname, ranking it #802 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,528, ranked #886, down from #802 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Cheviot East and Hawick Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jeffrey is 7,761 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.3%.

1881 census count

5,525

Ranked #802

Modern count

7,528

2016, ranked #886

Peak year

1998

7,761 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jeffrey had 5,525 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #802 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,528 in 2016, ranked #886.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,528 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Jeffrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jeffrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jeffrey 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 2,461 #1,209
1861 historical 3,254 #883
1881 historical 5,525 #802
1891 historical 5,997 #780
1901 historical 6,528 #851
1911 historical 4,667 #1,108
1997 modern 7,513 #855
1998 modern 7,761 #865
1999 modern 7,702 #878
2000 modern 7,586 #886
2001 modern 7,335 #899
2002 modern 7,484 #899
2003 modern 7,233 #911
2004 modern 7,245 #908
2005 modern 7,149 #906
2006 modern 7,180 #900
2007 modern 7,330 #895
2008 modern 7,411 #892
2009 modern 7,589 #892
2010 modern 7,716 #897
2011 modern 7,515 #905
2012 modern 7,444 #892
2013 modern 7,551 #897
2014 modern 7,603 #894
2015 modern 7,553 #887
2016 modern 7,528 #886

Geography

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Where Jeffreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Cheviot East, Hawick Central and West Oxfordshire. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
2 Cheviot East Scottish Borders
3 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
4 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
5 West Oxfordshire 011 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jeffrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jeffrey

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Jeffrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Jeffrey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jeffrey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jeffrey is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jeffrey

The surname Jeffrey originated in England, with its roots traced back to the medieval period, specifically the 12th century. It is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name "Godfried" or "Gaufrid," which means "peace" and "fried" or "free." The name underwent various transformations and adaptations throughout history, resulting in the modern English spelling of Jeffrey.

During the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many individuals bearing this name migrated from Normandy to Britain. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Geffrei, Geffray, and Jefreys.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Geoffrey of Monmouth, a renowned cleric and historian from the 12th century. He is best known for his work "Historia Regum Britanniae" (History of the Kings of Britain), which recounted the legends of King Arthur and played a significant role in shaping the Arthurian mythology.

In the 13th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, the celebrated English poet and author, is considered one of the most famous individuals to bear the name. His literary masterpiece, "The Canterbury Tales," is a landmark work that profoundly influenced the development of English literature.

Other notable figures with the surname Jeffrey include Sir Walter Raleigh, an English writer, explorer, and courtier who lived from 1552 to 1618. He is renowned for his expeditions to the Americas and his role in establishing the first English colony in North America.

In the realm of science, Edward Jeffrey, an English botanist and geologist who lived from 1834 to 1910, made significant contributions to the study of plant anatomy and fossilized plants. His extensive research and publications advanced our understanding of plant structure and evolution.

During the 19th century, George Jeffrey, a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1834 to 1920, played a pivotal role in the development of the steel industry in the United States. He founded the Jeffery Manufacturing Company, which later became part of the Studebaker Corporation, known for producing automobiles and wagons.

The surname Jeffrey has a rich historical lineage, with its origins rooted in medieval England and connections to various notable figures throughout the centuries. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, it continues to carry a distinct legacy and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jeffrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jeffrey 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. Yorkshire leads with 439 Jeffreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 439 0.82x
Lanarkshire 429 2.46x
Middlesex 405 0.75x
Northumberland 323 4.02x
Surrey 316 1.20x
Midlothian 290 4.01x
Kent 243 1.32x
Durham 215 1.34x
Hampshire 178 1.61x
Lancashire 169 0.26x
Sussex 152 1.67x
Essex 142 1.33x
Ayrshire 140 3.46x
Roxburghshire 130 13.29x
Berwickshire 125 19.11x
Devon 112 1.00x
Northamptonshire 102 2.01x
Cumberland 100 2.15x
Lincolnshire 89 1.03x
Stirlingshire 83 4.17x
Aberdeenshire 74 1.48x
Cambridgeshire 74 2.16x
Dorset 72 2.03x
Cornwall 65 1.06x
Perthshire 57 2.35x
Derbyshire 53 0.63x
Warwickshire 47 0.35x
East Lothian 46 6.43x
Gloucestershire 45 0.42x
West Lothian 45 5.53x
Renfrewshire 44 1.05x
Glamorgan 41 0.44x
Suffolk 41 0.62x
Oxfordshire 38 1.14x
Cheshire 34 0.29x
Clackmannanshire 34 7.62x
Dunbartonshire 34 2.34x
Leicestershire 34 0.57x
Angus 33 0.66x
Fife 31 0.97x
Worcestershire 27 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 26 0.80x
Berkshire 25 0.62x
Somerset 25 0.29x
Bedfordshire 24 0.86x
Shropshire 23 0.49x
Dumfriesshire 22 1.84x
Hertfordshire 20 0.54x
Selkirkshire 20 4.09x
Channel Islands 18 1.12x
Staffordshire 18 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 14 1.31x
Buteshire 13 3.97x
Caernarfonshire 12 0.55x
Morayshire 11 1.31x
Wiltshire 10 0.21x
Monmouthshire 9 0.23x
Argyllshire 8 0.53x
Carmarthenshire 8 0.35x
Denbighshire 8 0.39x
Peeblesshire 8 3.15x
Ross-shire 8 0.54x
Wigtownshire 8 1.12x
Inverness-shire 5 0.31x
Royal Navy 5 0.78x
Norfolk 4 0.05x
Kincardineshire 3 0.46x
Orkney 3 0.50x
Rutland 3 0.76x
Westmorland 3 0.25x
Banffshire 1 0.09x
Flintshire 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.05x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.13x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.06x
Radnorshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 140 Jeffreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.81x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 140 4.81x
Govan 136 3.15x
Barony 126 2.85x
Glasgow 57 1.84x
Saffron Walden 51 45.27x
Elswick 49 7.64x
South Leith 47 5.77x
Bishopwearmouth 42 3.05x
Greenwich 39 4.54x
Keighley 38 6.66x
Lambeth 38 0.81x
St Pancras London 38 0.87x
St Marylebone London 37 1.28x
St Ninians 37 18.74x
Clerkenwell London 35 2.75x
Dundonald 35 23.48x
Aberdeen Old Machar 34 3.26x
Hackney London 34 1.12x
Bermondsey 33 2.05x
Camberwell 33 0.96x
Arlecdon 32 25.88x
Islington London 31 0.59x
Rotherhithe 31 4.65x
Eccles 30 104.68x
Kelso 30 30.77x
Croydon 27 1.85x
Westgate 27 5.43x
Burley In Wharfdale 26 55.01x
Byker 26 6.54x
North Leith 26 7.76x
Portsea 26 1.20x
East Peckham 25 65.33x
Otley 25 19.24x
West Ham 25 1.06x
Uphall 24 26.83x
Calverley Cum Farsley 23 15.13x
Chirnside 22 78.49x
Kilwinning 22 16.85x
Battersea 21 1.06x
Brighton 20 1.09x
Irvine 20 17.81x
Jedburgh 20 20.86x
Towcester 20 38.17x
Tynemouth 20 4.65x
Alnwick 19 13.75x
Brading 19 12.91x
New Monkland 19 3.68x
Poplar London 19 1.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 19 1.75x
Bournmoor 18 71.32x
Gateshead 18 1.50x
Hastings St Mary 18 7.94x
Millom 18 12.63x
Blandford Forum 17 24.31x
Hampsthwaite 17 201.18x
Layton With Warbreck 17 7.23x
Newmarket St Mary 17 33.67x
Bradford 16 1.23x
Coldingham 16 27.22x
Northwood 16 10.15x
Old Monkland 16 2.31x
Westoe 16 1.76x
Alloa 15 6.93x
Shoreditch London 15 0.64x
Southwick 15 31.15x
St Luke London 15 1.73x
Winlaton 15 9.73x
Workington 15 5.63x
Deptford St Paul 14 0.98x
Leicester St Margaret 14 0.96x
St George Hanover Square 14 1.47x
Stoke Damerel 14 1.78x
Airth 13 51.36x
Alverstoke 13 3.24x
Coulsdon 13 27.17x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 1.19x
Folkestone 13 3.64x
Melrose 13 15.37x
Plymouth Charles The 13 2.62x
Wood Ditton 13 45.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 238
Elizabeth 146
Sarah 119
Jane 83
Ann 62
Annie 60
Alice 56
Eliza 56
Emma 53
Ellen 50
Hannah 46
Margaret 46
Emily 41
Martha 36
Caroline 34
Louisa 34
Fanny 28
Isabella 25
Florence 24
Ada 23
Harriet 21
Lucy 21
Catherine 20
Charlotte 18
Edith 18
Susan 17
Clara 16
Kate 16
Maria 15
Agnes 14
Rose 14
Amelia 13
Anne 13
Sophia 13
Frances 12
Laura 11
Flora 9
Minnie 9
Susannah 9
Ethel 8
Jessie 8
Julia 8
Lizzie 8
Rebecca 8
Gertrude 7
Grace 7
Harriett 7
Janet 7
Matilda 7
Rhoda 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 275
John 219
George 151
James 125
Thomas 118
Henry 65
Charles 59
Robert 57
Alfred 54
Joseph 46
Arthur 43
Edward 42
Frederick 32
Albert 31
Richard 29
Walter 29
Harry 28
Samuel 22
Benjamin 18
Frank 18
David 17
Andrew 13
Edwin 12
Fred 12
Herbert 12
Thos. 11
Ernest 10
Francis 10
Peter 10
Wm. 10
Alexander 9
Geo. 7
Joshua 6
Adam 5
Isaac 5
Jonathan 5
Mark 5
Stephen 5
Ambrose 4
Edgar 4
Harold 4
Hubert 4
J. 4
Nathan 4
Percy 4
Philip 4
Sidney 4
Stanley 4
Tom 4
Jas. 3

FAQ

Jeffrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jeffrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,525 people were recorded with the Jeffrey surname. That placed it at #802 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jeffrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,528 in 2016. That gives Jeffrey a modern rank of #886.

What does the Jeffrey surname mean?

A surname derived from a medieval given name, a variant of Geoffrey, which comes from German meaning "peaceful pledge."

What does the Jeffrey map show?

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