NameCensus.

UK surname

Jeremiah

An ancient biblical surname originating from the Hebrew name meaning "exalted by God".

In the 1881 census there were 343 people recorded with the Jeremiah surname, ranking it #8,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 743, ranked #7,347, up from #8,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) and Panteague. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, Ceredigion and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jeremiah is 748 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 116.6%.

1881 census count

343

Ranked #8,889

Modern count

743

2016, ranked #7,347

Peak year

2014

748 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jeremiah had 343 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 743 in 2016, ranked #7,347.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Jeremiah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jeremiah surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Jeremiah 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 288 #7,884
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 343 #8,889
1891 historical 350 #9,836
1901 historical 404 #9,426
1911 historical 511 #7,706
1997 modern 693 #7,306
1998 modern 715 #7,356
1999 modern 711 #7,428
2000 modern 683 #7,633
2001 modern 675 #7,569
2002 modern 703 #7,483
2003 modern 683 #7,540
2004 modern 676 #7,616
2005 modern 667 #7,633
2006 modern 666 #7,659
2007 modern 682 #7,590
2008 modern 680 #7,655
2009 modern 714 #7,527
2010 modern 726 #7,568
2011 modern 709 #7,627
2012 modern 703 #7,580
2013 modern 742 #7,409
2014 modern 748 #7,397
2015 modern 738 #7,413
2016 modern 743 #7,347

Geography

Back to top

Where Jeremiahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Panteague, Trevethin with Pontypool and Llangafelach. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, Ceredigion, Neath Port Talbot and Merthyr Tydfil. 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 St Mary Cardiganshire
2 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
3 Panteague Monmouthshire
4 Trevethin with Pontypool Monmouthshire
5 Llangafelach Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
2 Ceredigion 009 Ceredigion
3 Neath Port Talbot 020 Neath Port Talbot
4 Merthyr Tydfil 007 Merthyr Tydfil
5 Torfaen 003 Torfaen

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Jeremiah

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Jeremiah

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jeremiah, 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 Jeremiah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Jeremiah 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Jeremiah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Jeremiah 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

Jeremiah falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jeremiah

The surname Jeremiah is of Hebrew origin, derived from the Hebrew name Yirmeyahu, which means "Yahweh has uplifted" or "Yahweh will exalt." It is a biblical name associated with the prophet Jeremiah, who lived in the 7th century BCE in ancient Judah.

Jeremiah is a patronymic surname, meaning it was initially derived from the given name of the father or an ancestor. It became a hereditary surname in English-speaking countries during the late medieval period, when surnames were adopted to distinguish individuals and families.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Jeremiah can be found in England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, where it was first documented in the late 13th century. One of the earliest references to the name is in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dating back to 1273, which mentions a John Jeremie.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Jeremye, Jermy, and Jermyn, reflecting the linguistic variations and regional dialects of the time. The surname was also associated with place names, such as Jermyn Street in London, which was named after Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St. Albans (1605-1684), a prominent courtier during the reign of Charles I and Charles II.

Notable individuals with the surname Jeremiah throughout history include:

1. John Jeremiah (1758-1824), an English inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the textile industry and the development of the Cromford Canal.

2. James Jeremiah (1809-1883), an American politician who served as the 13th Governor of Connecticut from 1861 to 1865.

3. Thomas Jeremiah (1825-1890), a Welsh Baptist minister and writer who authored several works on religious and historical subjects.

4. James Jeremiah (1868-1942), a British politician and trade unionist who served as the Member of Parliament for Barnsley from 1906 to 1922.

5. John Jeremiah Sullivan (born 1974), an American writer, and journalist known for his essays and works of literary non-fiction.

While the surname Jeremiah has biblical roots, it has been widely adopted and used across various cultures and regions, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Jeremiah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jeremiah 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. Monmouthshire leads with 132 Jeremiahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.42x.

County Total Index
Monmouthshire 132 54.42x
Glamorgan 130 22.25x
Cardiganshire 39 47.65x
Kent 9 0.79x
Carmarthenshire 8 5.66x
Pembrokeshire 7 6.56x
Lancashire 4 0.10x
Brecknockshire 3 4.47x
Hampshire 3 0.44x
Middlesex 3 0.09x
Yorkshire 3 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.74x
Devon 1 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Trevethin in Monmouthshire leads with 47 Jeremiahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 205.15x.

Place Total Index
Trevethin 47 205.15x
Cardigan St Mary 24 764.33x
Clase 23 105.89x
Ystradyfodwg 22 42.93x
Aberdare 19 47.37x
Llantrisant 14 95.04x
Mynyddyslwyn 14 146.29x
Panteg 12 314.14x
Gelligaer 9 67.47x
Monkswood 9 4500.00x
Plumstead 9 23.58x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 8 172.79x
Rhyndwyclydach 8 197.53x
Bedwellty 7 16.34x
St Dogmells 7 247.35x
Swansea Higher 7 114.94x
Swansea Town 7 14.61x
Bettws 6 298.51x
Goytrey 6 779.22x
Llanwenarth Ultra 6 338.98x
Tremain 6 2000.00x
Cwmdu 5 70.22x
Kilrhedyn 5 450.45x
Llanover 5 60.39x
Penderry 5 480.77x
West Newchurch 5 3846.15x
Aberystruth 3 14.03x
Laleston 3 483.87x
Lampeter 3 375.00x
Abergavenny 2 22.03x
Bradford 2 2.48x
Holdenhurst 2 11.09x
Islington London 2 0.61x
Llandyfodwg 2 60.42x
Llangattock 2 36.56x
Neath Upper 2 130.72x
St Woollos 2 7.39x
Aberdaron 1 71.94x
Bristol St Michael 1 17.73x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.11x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 8.27x
Christchurch 1 13.33x
Everton 1 0.79x
Grimsargh With 1 238.10x
Hackney London 1 0.53x
Llanelly 1 12.45x
Llangadock 1 25.64x
Llangibby 1 178.57x
Llanvaches 1 384.62x
Manchester 1 0.56x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 1.78x
Michaelstone Super Avon 1 15.80x
Middlesbrough 1 2.31x
Mount 1 666.67x
Neath 1 8.41x
Tormoham 1 3.38x
Upper Llanvrechva 1 26.53x
Upper Machen 1 60.24x
Usk 1 49.75x
Ventnor 1 15.29x
Wavertree 1 7.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 25
Margaret 14
Anne 8
Martha 8
Sarah 8
Ann 6
Hannah 6
Rachel 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Harriet 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Rachael 2
Agnes 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Elinor 1
Eliz 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Francess 1
Gwen 1
Gwladis 1
Hanah 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jennett 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Margret 1
Mariah 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Morfudd 1
R. 1
Rebecca 1
Sophia 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 25
Thomas 17
David 16
Benjamin 7
Alfred 6
James 6
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Abraham 4
George 4
Wm. 4
Evan 3
Isaac 3
Jenkin 2
Willie 2
Alexander 1
Alonzo 1
Arthur 1
Cedwin 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Davied 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jabez 1
Jeremiah 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Obiah 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Rawpton 1
Raymond 1
Richard 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Watkin 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Jeremiah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jeremiah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 343 people were recorded with the Jeremiah surname. That placed it at #8,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jeremiah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 743 in 2016. That gives Jeremiah a modern rank of #7,347.

What does the Jeremiah surname mean?

An ancient biblical surname originating from the Hebrew name meaning "exalted by God".

What does the Jeremiah map show?

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