NameCensus.

UK surname

Jesse

An anglicized form of the Hebrew name Yishai, meaning "God's gift" or "God exists."

In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Jesse surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 290, ranked #15,099, down from #13,322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Fontnell Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, West Berkshire and East Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jesse is 298 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.4%.

1881 census count

189

Ranked #13,322

Modern count

290

2016, ranked #15,099

Peak year

2015

298 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jesse had 189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016, ranked #15,099.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 290 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jesse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jesse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jesse 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 189 #13,322
1891 historical 271 #11,992
1901 historical 290 #11,925
1911 historical 285 #11,837
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 208 #17,693
1999 modern 230 #16,685
2000 modern 224 #16,934
2001 modern 219 #16,967
2002 modern 224 #17,042
2003 modern 226 #16,766
2004 modern 238 #16,242
2005 modern 242 #15,987
2006 modern 248 #15,820
2007 modern 258 #15,554
2008 modern 260 #15,648
2009 modern 263 #15,843
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 276 #15,427
2013 modern 288 #15,192
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 298 #14,832
2016 modern 290 #15,099

Geography

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Where Jesses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Fontnell Magna, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Horsham, West Berkshire, East Dorset, Lewisham and Ryedale. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Fontnell Magna Dorset
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Horsham 014 Horsham
2 West Berkshire 002 West Berkshire
3 East Dorset 001 East Dorset
4 Lewisham 001 Lewisham
5 Ryedale 004 Ryedale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jesse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jesse

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

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Jesse is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

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

Jesse is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jesse falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jesse

The surname Jesse has its origins in England, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name "Gessa" or "Gisa," which itself originated from the Germanic root "ges" meaning "guest" or "stranger."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jesse can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named "Gessa" in the county of Berkshire.

In the 12th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Gesse," "Iesse," and "Jesse," reflecting the evolution of spelling conventions over time. One notable bearer of the name during this period was Jesse de Amundeville, who was a prominent landowner in Warwickshire in the late 12th century.

As the surname Jesse spread across England, it became associated with certain place names, such as Jesse Green in Buckinghamshire and Jesse's Hill in Worcestershire. These locations likely took their names from early settlers or landowners with the surname Jesse.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Jesse is John Jesse, an English historian and writer who lived from 1815 to 1887. He authored several books on English history and literature, including "Memoirs of the Court of England from the Revolution in 1688 to the Death of George II."

Another famous bearer of the name was George Richard Jesse, an English lawyer and writer who lived from 1786 to 1866. He is best known for his work "Researches into the History of the British Dog," which was a comprehensive study of the various breeds of dogs in Britain.

In the field of sports, Jesse Ramsden (1735-1800) was a renowned English mathematician and instrument maker who is credited with inventing several important surveying and astronomical instruments, including the Ramsden theodolite.

Moving into the 19th century, Jesse Boot (1850-1931) was a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Boots pharmacy chain, which grew to become a prominent retailer in the United Kingdom.

Lastly, Jesse Owens (1913-1980) was an American track and field athlete who achieved international fame at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he won four gold medals, challenging the Nazi ideology of Aryan supremacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jesse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jesse 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. Hampshire leads with 39 Jesses recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.21x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 39 10.21x
Surrey 30 3.30x
Middlesex 23 1.23x
Wiltshire 14 8.50x
Lancashire 12 0.54x
Glamorgan 11 3.39x
Dorset 10 8.18x
Cornwall 7 3.32x
Shropshire 7 4.35x
Sussex 6 1.91x
Somerset 5 1.67x
Berkshire 4 2.86x
Cardiganshire 4 8.80x
Devon 4 1.03x
Cheshire 3 0.73x
Midlothian 3 1.20x
Channel Islands 2 3.62x
Essex 2 0.54x
Kent 2 0.31x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 20 Jesses recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.72x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 20 26.72x
Toxteth Park 10 13.36x
Camberwell 9 7.56x
Streatham 9 65.12x
Broseley 7 244.76x
Fontmell Magna 7 1489.36x
Roath 7 47.52x
Dinton 6 2068.97x
Morwenstow 6 1153.85x
Northwood 6 110.29x
Lambeth 5 3.08x
Cardiff St Mary 4 22.38x
Cardigan St Mary 4 229.89x
Croydon 4 7.94x
Hackney London 4 3.83x
Islington London 4 2.22x
Salisbury St Martin 4 233.92x
Wembdon 4 449.44x
Alverstoke 3 21.71x
Basingstoke 3 68.34x
Leith South 3 882.35x
Reading St Mary 3 26.79x
Ryde 3 36.59x
St Marylebone London 3 3.02x
Bow 2 384.62x
Brighton 2 3.16x
Chelsea London 2 3.56x
Chester St Oswald 2 26.85x
Manningford Bohun 2 1333.33x
Margate St John Baptist 2 17.18x
Motcombe 2 222.22x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 24.78x
St Pancras London 2 1.33x
St Saviour 2 65.57x
Andover 1 27.70x
Bradford 1 2.24x
Devonport 1 22.42x
Eastergate 1 1000.00x
Hammersmith London 1 2.18x
Hastings St Mary 1 12.79x
Henbury Cum Pexhall 1 357.14x
Hitcham 1 384.62x
Ilfracombe 1 25.06x
Leweston 1 3333.33x
Little Bolton 1 3.52x
Manningham 1 4.40x
Marazion 1 400.00x
Moss Side 1 8.60x
Paddington London 1 1.46x
Penge 1 8.40x
Petersfield 1 95.24x
Portsmouth 1 11.38x
Ratcliffe London 1 9.72x
Reading St Giles 1 7.29x
Reigate Borough 1 47.85x
Salisbury St Edmund 1 37.88x
Southampton St Mary 1 4.16x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 37.88x
St George Bloomsbury 1 9.35x
Subdeanery 1 42.02x
West Ham 1 1.23x
Westminster St Margaret 1 11.12x
Wickham Bishops 1 294.12x
Wilton 1 85.47x
Withyam 1 74.63x
Woking 1 18.28x
Yeovil 1 16.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 8
Alfred 5
James 5
Charles 4
Henry 4
Thomas 4
David 3
George 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
A.E.M. 1
A.F.H. 1
Adrian 1
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Eustace 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Joshua 1
Josiah 1
Leon 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Noel 1
Percy 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Jesse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jesse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Jesse surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jesse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 290 in 2016. That gives Jesse a modern rank of #15,099.

What does the Jesse surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Hebrew name Yishai, meaning "God's gift" or "God exists."

What does the Jesse map show?

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