NameCensus.

UK surname

Jelly

A surname possibly derived from an Old French word meaning "joyful" or "carefree."

In the 1881 census there were 859 people recorded with the Jelly surname, ranking it #4,404 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 372, ranked #12,539, down from #4,404 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stoke-next-Guildford, London parishes and Woking. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Sutton and Harborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jelly is 935 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.7%.

1881 census count

859

Ranked #4,404

Modern count

372

2016, ranked #12,539

Peak year

1901

935 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jelly had 859 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,404 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016, ranked #12,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 935 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Jelly surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jelly surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jelly 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 587 #4,357
1861 historical 560 #4,704
1881 historical 859 #4,404
1891 historical 748 #5,323
1901 historical 935 #4,995
1911 historical 629 #6,594
1997 modern 422 #10,571
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 423 #10,982
2000 modern 428 #10,850
2001 modern 403 #11,163
2002 modern 409 #11,250
2003 modern 383 #11,614
2004 modern 385 #11,607
2005 modern 385 #11,512
2006 modern 377 #11,743
2007 modern 388 #11,630
2008 modern 388 #11,745
2009 modern 394 #11,859
2010 modern 392 #12,186
2011 modern 388 #12,121
2012 modern 366 #12,520
2013 modern 367 #12,707
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 372 #12,544
2016 modern 372 #12,539

Geography

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Where Jellys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stoke-next-Guildford, London parishes, Woking, Eccles and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Sutton, Harborough and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Stoke-next-Guildford Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 Woking Surrey
4 Eccles Lancashire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
2 Sutton 009 Sutton
3 Harborough 004 Harborough
4 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
5 Bath and North East Somerset 025 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jelly

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jelly

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Jelly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Jelly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Jelly is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Jelly is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jelly falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jelly

The surname JELLY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "gelede," which referred to a person who lived near a pond or marshy area. The name likely evolved from this term to describe someone who lived in a particularly wet or muddy region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name JELLY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gelede." This vital record from the time of William the Conqueror suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in various parts of England.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the surname JELLY appeared in various forms, including "Gelly," "Gellie," and "Jellie," reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. These early spellings provide insight into the name's evolution from its Old English roots.

In the 14th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir John Jelly, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was born in 1320 in Gloucestershire and served under King Edward III, participating in several crucial battles during the conflict.

Another prominent figure was William Jelly, a merchant and landowner who lived in Essex during the 15th century. Records from 1472 indicate that he held significant property and played a role in local affairs, reflecting the name's association with landowners and the gentry during that period.

Moving into the 16th century, we find mention of Thomas Jelly, a scholar and clergyman who was born in 1532 in Oxfordshire. He attended Oxford University and later became a respected theologian and author, publishing several works on religious topics.

In the 17th century, the name JELLY was also present in the American colonies. One notable example is Robert Jelly, who immigrated to Virginia from England in 1635. He settled in the Jamestown area and became a prosperous landowner and planter, contributing to the early development of the colony.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the JELLY surname continued to be found across various regions of England, as well as in parts of the United States and other English-speaking countries. However, it remained a relatively uncommon name, with only a few notable individuals bearing it during this period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jelly families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jelly 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. Surrey leads with 138 Jellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

County Total Index
Surrey 138 3.30x
Leicestershire 118 12.40x
Middlesex 106 1.23x
Lancashire 85 0.83x
Somerset 80 5.79x
Hampshire 52 2.96x
Northamptonshire 49 6.07x
Lanarkshire 27 0.97x
Isle of Man 24 15.06x
Warwickshire 19 0.88x
Gloucestershire 17 1.01x
Hertfordshire 14 2.37x
Nottinghamshire 14 1.21x
Monmouthshire 12 1.93x
Yorkshire 12 0.14x
Wiltshire 11 1.45x
Bedfordshire 9 2.02x
Durham 9 0.35x
Kent 9 0.31x
Ayrshire 8 1.25x
Lincolnshire 8 0.58x
Essex 7 0.41x
Devon 6 0.34x
Staffordshire 6 0.21x
Cheshire 5 0.26x
Renfrewshire 4 0.60x
Worcestershire 4 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.58x
Cumberland 3 0.41x
Berkshire 2 0.31x
Dorset 2 0.36x
Glamorgan 2 0.13x
Herefordshire 2 0.57x
Oxfordshire 2 0.38x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Flintshire 1 0.43x
Midlothian 1 0.09x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.98x
Rutland 1 1.59x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 48 Jellys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.68x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 48 20.68x
Frome 40 121.03x
Pendleton In Salford 36 29.66x
Albury 18 472.44x
St Pancras London 16 2.32x
Godalming 15 56.97x
Islington London 15 1.80x
Onchan 15 32.67x
Shere 15 297.03x
Abthorpe 14 1037.04x
Stoke 14 70.92x
St Marylebone London 13 2.84x
St Michael Winchester 13 362.12x
Bedminster 11 8.47x
Lambeth 11 1.47x
Aston 10 1.68x
Barrow Upon Soar 10 127.23x
Foxton 10 980.39x
Fulham London 10 8.03x
Wisley 10 1818.18x
Wonersh 10 191.57x
Aberystruth 9 16.45x
Leicester Black Friars 9 145.40x
Lubenham 9 520.23x
Manchester 9 1.96x
Southampton All Sts 9 29.81x
Winlaton 9 36.73x
Battersea 8 2.53x
Middleton In Oldham 8 26.20x
Northampton All Sts 8 29.20x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.67x
Shotts 8 24.08x
Southampton St Michael 8 138.17x
Auckinleck 7 35.19x
Belgrave 7 32.59x
Broughton In Salford 7 7.52x
Hitchin 7 26.21x
Southampton St Mary 7 6.33x
St Andrew Holborn London 7 18.84x
Wellow 7 172.41x
West Ham 7 1.87x
Barony 6 0.85x
Chelsea London 6 2.32x
Clapham 6 5.59x
Cosgrove 6 320.86x
Evington 6 454.55x
Great Grimsby 6 6.89x
Harborne 6 6.46x
Northchurch 6 94.94x
Old Monkland 6 5.45x
Paddington London 6 1.90x
Roade 6 283.02x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 8.91x
Byfield 5 214.59x
Chadderton 5 10.04x
Isleworth 5 13.10x
Leighton Buzzard 5 26.15x
Maryhill 5 9.20x
Newington 5 21.35x
Portishead 5 48.69x
Stapleford 5 53.19x
Stockport 5 5.13x
Abinger 4 115.27x
Ballaugh 4 140.85x
Bedford St Paul 4 13.12x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 2.52x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 6.19x
Eastwood 4 9.76x
Gorton 4 4.18x
Kings Norton 4 3.98x
Leicester All Sts 4 21.40x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 11.06x
Northampton Priory St 4 8.26x
Oadby 4 78.43x
Swindon 4 6.79x
Totnes 4 38.28x
Westminster St Margaret 4 9.66x
Wigston Magna 4 31.70x
Willesden 4 4.94x
Wraxall 4 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 57
James 39
John 30
George 29
Thomas 21
Henry 19
Frederick 13
Charles 11
Robert 11
Joseph 10
Samuel 10
Walter 10
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Edwin 9
Richard 8
Arthur 6
Frank 6
Harry 6
Francis 5
Albert 4
Geo. 4
Willm. 4
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Archibald 2
Charley 2
Christopher 2
Harris 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Oliver 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Albin 1
Chrles 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Duncan 1
Emmanuel 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredric 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Marwood 1
Mathew 1

FAQ

Jelly surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jelly surname in 1881?

In 1881, 859 people were recorded with the Jelly surname. That placed it at #4,404 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jelly surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016. That gives Jelly a modern rank of #12,539.

What does the Jelly surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from an Old French word meaning "joyful" or "carefree."

What does the Jelly map show?

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