NameCensus.

UK surname

Jelfs

In the 1881 census there were 317 people recorded with the Jelfs surname, ranking it #9,359 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 581, ranked #8,925, up from #9,359 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willersey, Kings Norton and Badsey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jelfs is 635 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.3%.

1881 census count

317

Ranked #9,359

Modern count

581

2016, ranked #8,925

Peak year

1999

635 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jelfs had 317 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,359 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016, ranked #8,925.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jelfs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jelfs surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Jelfs 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 197 #10,535
1861 historical 183 #12,903
1881 historical 317 #9,359
1891 historical 322 #10,507
1901 historical 488 #8,194
1911 historical 511 #7,706
1997 modern 575 #8,388
1998 modern 624 #8,162
1999 modern 635 #8,109
2000 modern 616 #8,276
2001 modern 604 #8,260
2002 modern 631 #8,152
2003 modern 608 #8,244
2004 modern 623 #8,109
2005 modern 603 #8,247
2006 modern 585 #8,440
2007 modern 600 #8,358
2008 modern 600 #8,417
2009 modern 606 #8,535
2010 modern 614 #8,638
2011 modern 610 #8,569
2012 modern 596 #8,658
2013 modern 572 #9,042
2014 modern 571 #9,113
2015 modern 574 #9,015
2016 modern 581 #8,925

Geography

Back to top

Where Jelfs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willersey, Kings Norton, Badsey, Bretforton and Bromsgrove, Upton Warren. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon and Stratford-on-Avon. 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 Willersey Worcestershire
2 Kings Norton Worcestershire
3 Badsey Worcestershire
4 Bretforton Worcestershire
5 Bromsgrove, Upton Warren Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 013 Wychavon
2 Wychavon 014 Wychavon
3 Wychavon 011 Wychavon
4 Stratford-on-Avon 012 Stratford-on-Avon
5 Wychavon 016 Wychavon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Jelfs

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Jelfs

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Jelfs is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jelfs is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jelfs falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Jelfs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jelfs 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. Worcestershire leads with 98 Jelfs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.27x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 98 24.27x
Warwickshire 89 11.41x
Gloucestershire 31 5.11x
Oxfordshire 26 13.62x
Middlesex 20 0.65x
Staffordshire 13 1.25x
Devon 9 1.40x
Herefordshire 7 5.52x
Derbyshire 5 1.03x
Kent 4 0.38x
Lancashire 4 0.11x
Yorkshire 3 0.10x
Dorset 2 0.99x
Essex 2 0.33x
Northumberland 2 0.43x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bretforton in Worcestershire leads with 35 Jelfs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5833.33x.

Place Total Index
Bretforton 35 5833.33x
Aston 28 13.04x
Birmingham 17 6.54x
Bromsgrove 15 110.38x
Kings Norton 14 38.66x
Great Little Hampton 12 1791.04x
Willersey 12 2857.14x
Neithrop 11 171.34x
Great Barr 10 840.34x
Leek Wootten 10 2325.58x
Norton 10 2272.73x
Tavistock 8 109.14x
Cheltenham 7 14.96x
Horley 7 2121.21x
Lapworth 7 958.90x
Wootton Wawen 7 284.55x
Aston Cantlow 6 512.82x
Badsey 6 983.61x
Weston Under Penyard 6 674.16x
Bristol St Augustine 5 51.07x
Cubbington 5 480.77x
Melbourne 5 151.06x
Shoreditch London 5 3.73x
Lewisham 4 7.11x
Limehouse London 4 11.78x
Manchester 4 2.42x
Wilnecote 4 178.57x
Hendon 3 26.95x
Mile End Old Town London 3 4.56x
Walsall Foreign 3 5.56x
Warwick St Mary 3 44.31x
Alvechurch 2 116.28x
Bicester Market End 2 56.98x
Ebrington 2 350.88x
Grays Thurrock 2 35.27x
Hampstead London 2 4.15x
Headington 2 67.57x
Hornton 2 377.36x
Inkberrow 2 122.70x
Kimberworth 2 11.76x
Morton Baggot 2 2222.22x
North Shields 2 21.79x
Peopleton 2 689.66x
Sherborne 2 33.44x
Banbury 1 26.18x
Bath St Michael 1 39.84x
Bitton Oldland 1 16.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.75x
Buckden 1 322.58x
Drayton 1 208.33x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 1 9.01x
Islington London 1 0.33x
Kensington London 1 0.58x
Lidford 1 34.60x
Moreton In Marsh 1 65.79x
Pixley 1 1000.00x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.84x
Wootton St Lawrence 1 95.24x
Wormington 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 15
Henry 15
John 13
Thomas 13
James 11
William 11
Charles 10
Samuel 7
Alfred 6
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Ernest 4
Job 4
Abel 3
Albert 3
Arthur 3
David 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Eli 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Richard 2
Edawrd 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Emma 1
Fitz 1
Fred 1
Heber 1
Leo 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Oliver 1
Oscar 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Silas 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Jelfs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jelfs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 317 people were recorded with the Jelfs surname. That placed it at #9,359 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jelfs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016. That gives Jelfs a modern rank of #8,925.

What does the Jelfs map show?

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