NameCensus.

UK surname

Jenn

A variant spelling of the English surname Jenn meaning "the one from Genoa".

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Jenn surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Bromley and Tandridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jenn is 135 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.1%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

84

2016, ranked #32,726

Peak year

1911

135 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 1911

Key insights

  • Jenn had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016, ranked #32,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 135 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Jenn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jenn surname density by area, 1911 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jenn 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 111 #19,429
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 135 #19,058
1997 modern 90 #28,360
1998 modern 99 #27,785
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 92 #28,832
2001 modern 93 #28,382
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 108 #26,741
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 89 #30,027
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 89 #31,235
2010 modern 91 #31,497
2011 modern 84 #32,237
2012 modern 87 #32,180
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 93 #32,025
2015 modern 94 #31,872
2016 modern 84 #32,726

Geography

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Where Jenns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Southampton St Mary and Bideford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Bromley, Tandridge, Pembrokeshire and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Bideford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 005 Torridge
2 Bromley 039 Bromley
3 Tandridge 006 Tandridge
4 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
5 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jenn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jenn

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Jenn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Jenn 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Jenn 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

Jenn 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

Jenn falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jenn

The surname JENN is thought to have originated in the regions of France and Germany, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be a variant of the German surname "Jenne" or the French "Jeanne," both of which are derived from the given name "Jean," a form of the biblical name "John."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname JENN can be found in the 14th century, where it appears in various medieval records and manuscripts from the regions of Alsace and Lorraine, which were contested territories between France and Germany during that time. The name was often spelled with variations such as "Jenn," "Jenne," or "Jenn."

In the 15th century, the surname JENN is mentioned in several historical documents from the city of Strasbourg, which was a significant cultural and economic center in the Holy Roman Empire. These records suggest that individuals bearing the surname JENN held various occupations, including merchants, artisans, and landowners.

As the centuries progressed, the JENN surname spread across Europe, with notable bearers emerging in various countries. One such individual was Hans Jenn (1522-1591), a German composer and organist who served at the court of the Elector of Saxony. Another notable figure was Jean-Baptiste Jenn (1687-1753), a French sculptor and architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in Paris.

In the 18th century, the JENN surname found its way to the British Isles, with records indicating individuals bearing the name settled in England and Scotland. One notable example is William Jenn (1740-1821), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics.

As the world entered the 19th century, the JENN surname continued to spread, with individuals bearing the name making their mark in various fields. One such individual was Auguste Jenn (1819-1897), a French painter and engraver known for his landscape and genre paintings. Another notable figure was Carl Jenn (1857-1935), a German chemist and industrialist who pioneered the production of synthetic dyes and pharmaceuticals.

Throughout its history, the surname JENN has been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, the French town of Jenneville and the German village of Jennerhof both bear similarities to the surname, suggesting potential links to these locations or their historical variants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jenn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jenn 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. Middlesex leads with 34 Jenns recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 34 4.59x
Devon 21 13.61x
Essex 7 4.78x
Hampshire 5 3.29x
Surrey 3 0.83x
Dorset 2 4.11x
Royal Navy 1 11.33x
Suffolk 1 1.11x
Sussex 1 0.80x
Yorkshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 17 Jenns recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.49x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 17 28.49x
Bideford 13 787.88x
Hammersmith London 11 60.24x
West Ham 5 15.48x
Black Torrington 3 1363.64x
Islington London 3 4.18x
Southampton St Mary 3 31.41x
Battersea 2 7.33x
Clovelly 2 1000.00x
Harlow 2 317.46x
Shoreditch London 2 6.22x
Winterborne Came 2 5000.00x
Woolfardisworthy 2 909.09x
Christchurch 1 30.40x
Holy Rood 1 322.58x
Ilfracombe 1 62.89x
Ipswich St Clement 1 43.67x
Lambeth 1 1.55x
Royal Navy 1 13.25x
Rye 1 84.03x
Sculcoates 1 8.59x
St Marylebone London 1 2.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 3
Ann 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Charlot 1
Elenor 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Jemima 1
Lillian 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Mary 1
Maud 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 5
Alfred 4
James 4
William 4
John 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
George 2
Richard 2
Ed.P. 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Henry 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Jenn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jenn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Jenn surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jenn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Jenn a modern rank of #32,726.

What does the Jenn surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Jenn meaning "the one from Genoa".

What does the Jenn map show?

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