NameCensus.

UK surname

Jesson

A variant of the surname 'Jesse', derived from the biblical name 'Jesse'.

In the 1881 census there were 652 people recorded with the Jesson surname, ranking it #5,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 895, ranked #6,329, down from #5,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Barrow-in-Furness and Rutland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jesson is 992 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.3%.

1881 census count

652

Ranked #5,484

Modern count

895

2016, ranked #6,329

Peak year

1901

992 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jesson had 652 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 895 in 2016, ranked #6,329.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 992 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jesson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jesson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jesson 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 469 #5,291
1861 historical 388 #6,602
1881 historical 652 #5,484
1891 historical 755 #5,278
1901 historical 992 #4,799
1911 historical 988 #4,579
1997 modern 945 #5,744
1998 modern 987 #5,733
1999 modern 984 #5,787
2000 modern 987 #5,754
2001 modern 962 #5,770
2002 modern 974 #5,811
2003 modern 949 #5,838
2004 modern 952 #5,835
2005 modern 917 #5,938
2006 modern 911 #5,977
2007 modern 908 #6,044
2008 modern 920 #6,034
2009 modern 946 #6,016
2010 modern 966 #6,043
2011 modern 980 #5,909
2012 modern 941 #6,035
2013 modern 925 #6,221
2014 modern 927 #6,248
2015 modern 899 #6,330
2016 modern 895 #6,329

Geography

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Where Jessons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Dalton-in-Furness and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Barrow-in-Furness, Rutland, Kirklees and Harborough. 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 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 001 Melton
2 Barrow-in-Furness 004 Barrow-in-Furness
3 Rutland 004 Rutland
4 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
5 Harborough 010 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jesson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jesson

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Jesson 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

Jesson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jesson falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jesson

The surname Jesson has its origins in England, arising in the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the medieval given name Jesse, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Yishay, meaning "gift" or "wealthy." The Jesson surname arose as a patronymic, indicating the person was the son of Jesse or a variant spelling.

Early recordings of the name can be found in historical records such as the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, where a William Jesses is listed. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296 also mention a John Gesse. These variations in spelling were common in the development of surnames during the Middle Ages.

One notable early bearer of the name was John Jesson, born around 1520 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. He served as a member of parliament for Coventry in 1553 and was also a successful merchant and landowner in the area.

Another significant figure was Thomas Jesson, born in 1636 in Staffordshire. He was a prominent Puritan minister and author, known for his work "The Scripture Weighing All Opinions and Traditions" published in 1674.

In the 18th century, William Jesson, born in 1737 in Staffordshire, was a notable industrialist and entrepreneur. He established a successful pottery business and was involved in the early development of the industrial revolution in the area.

The Jesson surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Jesson's Hill in Staffordshire, which likely derived its name from an early landholder with the Jesson surname.

Other notable individuals with the Jesson surname include:

1. Henry Jesson (1768-1830), an English architect known for his work on several churches in Staffordshire. 2. Thomas Jesson (1805-1876), a British engineer and inventor who developed improvements in the design of steam engines. 3. Mary Jesson (1824-1892), an English artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits. 4. William Jesson (1850-1920), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a member of parliament for St. Pancras West from 1885 to 1900. 5. Robert Jesson (1917-1999), a British actor and playwright who appeared in several television and film productions in the mid-20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jesson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jesson 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. Leicestershire leads with 191 Jessons recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.76x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 191 26.76x
Staffordshire 103 4.74x
Warwickshire 73 4.50x
Middlesex 55 0.85x
Lancashire 33 0.43x
Yorkshire 26 0.41x
Rutland 25 52.89x
Northamptonshire 24 3.96x
Nottinghamshire 20 2.30x
Sussex 16 1.47x
Worcestershire 16 1.90x
Lanarkshire 10 0.48x
Lincolnshire 10 0.97x
Surrey 10 0.32x
Devon 9 0.67x
Hampshire 8 0.61x
Channel Islands 6 3.15x
Cheshire 4 0.28x
Kent 4 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.74x
Essex 3 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.51x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.77x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.78x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 1.30x
Shropshire 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Bromwich in Staffordshire leads with 64 Jessons recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.44x.

Place Total Index
West Bromwich 64 51.44x
Leicester St Margaret 31 17.81x
Birmingham 30 5.54x
Barrowden 24 1818.18x
Aston 23 5.14x
Enderby 17 459.46x
Sapcote 17 1111.11x
Branston 15 2678.57x
Harborne 15 21.54x
Barrow In Furness 14 13.47x
Bromley London 14 9.88x
Nottingham St Mary 13 5.79x
Gilmorton 12 845.07x
Gumley 12 2352.94x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 18.51x
Eaton 11 1428.57x
Hastings St Leonards 10 62.66x
Oldbury 10 24.17x
St Marylebone London 10 2.91x
Tipton 10 15.03x
Hose 8 824.74x
Leeds 8 2.22x
Milverton 8 168.07x
Tiverton 8 34.66x
Wolverhampton 8 4.79x
Clawson 7 424.24x
Ardwick 6 8.71x
Chelsea London 6 3.09x
Dalziel 6 26.79x
Duston 6 109.09x
Kings Norton 6 7.96x
Leamington 6 55.76x
Leicester St Mary 6 10.40x
St Helier 6 9.66x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.29x
Fleckney 5 294.12x
Islington London 5 0.80x
Medbourne 5 406.50x
Newborough 5 324.68x
Pilkington 5 17.23x
Salford 5 2.23x
Saltby 5 833.33x
Shadwell London 5 27.75x
Sharnford 5 495.05x
Ufford 5 1428.57x
Westminster St John 5 6.38x
Wigston Magna 5 52.80x
Barton Under Needwood 4 101.27x
Christchurch 4 13.98x
Greenwich 4 3.90x
Hinckley 4 23.63x
Hurdsfield 4 45.77x
Leicester All Sts 4 28.53x
Nether Hallam 4 4.63x
New Windsor 4 287.77x
Barking 3 8.07x
Govan 3 0.58x
Hugglescote 3 28.57x
Kirkby Mallory Earl 3 87.72x
Lambeth 3 0.53x
Millbrook 3 9.03x
Pulborough 3 75.38x
Smeeton 3 348.84x
Snenton 3 8.80x
Spalding 3 14.68x
Wakerley 3 612.24x
Whittlesey St Mary St 3 21.07x
Betton 2 392.16x
Clapham 2 2.48x
Daventry 2 23.34x
Desborough 2 43.96x
Fleet 2 68.26x
Hackney London 2 0.55x
Handsworth 2 3.73x
Llandudno 2 21.55x
Lower Beeding 2 69.44x
Melton Mowbray 2 15.59x
St George Hanover Square 2 1.76x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 2 13.81x
Toxteth Park 2 0.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 26
Ann 17
Jane 11
Alice 10
Eliza 9
Emma 9
Annie 8
Clara 7
Ellen 7
Anne 6
Harriet 6
Emily 5
Frances 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Martha 3
Rose 3
Amy 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Messhula 2
Phebe 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Anna 1
Betsey 1
Blanch 1
Eleanor 1
Elisa 1
Elizabth 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizth. 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 44
Thomas 30
Joseph 21
George 19
Charles 16
Henry 14
James 14
Arthur 10
Richard 10
Alfred 8
Frederick 7
Edward 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Eli 5
Robert 5
Enoch 4
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Jonathan 3
Isaac 2
Mathew 2
Sam 2
Solomon 2
Ward 2
Chas 1
Clement 1
Cornelius 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Ephreum 1
Ezra 1
Fossen 1
Foster 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.E. 1
Fredk.R. 1
Fredrick 1
Freeling 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Levison 1
Moss 1
Obadiah 1
Percy 1
Richd. 1

FAQ

Jesson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jesson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 652 people were recorded with the Jesson surname. That placed it at #5,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jesson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 895 in 2016. That gives Jesson a modern rank of #6,329.

What does the Jesson surname mean?

A variant of the surname 'Jesse', derived from the biblical name 'Jesse'.

What does the Jesson map show?

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