UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a professional jokester, clown, or entertainer in medieval courts.
In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Jester surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #20,248 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, Arthuret and Priors Marston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jester is 156 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 31.3%.
1881 census count
96
Ranked #20,248
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1861
156 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jester surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jester surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 88 | #18,569 |
| 1861 | historical | 156 | #14,813 |
| 1881 | historical | 96 | #20,248 |
| 1891 | historical | 132 | #19,976 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 67 | #31,409 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 61 | #31,891 |
| 2002 | modern | 58 | #32,564 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 50 | #33,784 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 52 | #34,688 |
| 2012 | modern | 57 | #34,452 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 68 | #33,898 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, Arthuret, Priors Marston, Hawkhurst, Etchingham and Oldswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 2 | Arthuret | Cumberland |
| 3 | Priors Marston | Warwickshire |
| 4 | Hawkhurst, Etchingham | Kent |
| 5 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jester surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jester, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Jester surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jester household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Jester is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jester is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jester, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Jester is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "gestour" or "jestour," meaning a reciter of tales or jester. This name first emerged in England during the late 12th century.
The earliest recorded use of the surname Jester can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1190, where a man named Richard le Gestour was listed. The name was likely given to individuals who performed as court jesters or entertainers during the medieval period.
In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Gestour, Gester, and Jestour, reflecting the evolution of the spelling over time. One notable early bearer of the name was John le Gestour, a landowner in Essex mentioned in the Feet of Fines records in 1285.
The name Jester is also associated with several place names in England, such as Jester's Hill in Buckinghamshire and Jester's Close in Oxfordshire. These place names may have been derived from individuals with the surname Jester who lived or owned land in those areas.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname Jester. One example is William Jester (1544-1623), an English playwright and actor who performed for Queen Elizabeth I. Another is John Jester (1592-1658), a Puritan minister and author who served as the vicar of Boxwell in Gloucestershire.
In the 18th century, Thomas Jester (1720-1805) was a prominent English merchant and landowner in Bristol. His son, William Jester (1755-1832), became a respected lawyer and served as a member of parliament for Shaftesbury.
Moving into the 19th century, George Jester (1815-1891) was a British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and later became an admiral in the Royal Navy.
While the surname Jester has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through immigration and migration patterns.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jester surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Warwickshire leads with 40 Jesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 40 | 16.94x |
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.60x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 4.11x |
| Kent | 7 | 2.19x |
| Northamptonshire | 7 | 7.95x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 4.09x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.88x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.27x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.73x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 28 Jesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aston | 28 | 43.06x |
| West Bromwich | 10 | 55.28x |
| Higham Ferrers | 7 | 1458.33x |
| Islington London | 7 | 7.71x |
| Priors Marston | 7 | 3888.89x |
| Yalding | 6 | 740.74x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 5 | 25.09x |
| Wollaston | 5 | 641.03x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 3.81x |
| Battersea | 2 | 5.81x |
| Coventry St Michael | 2 | 26.39x |
| Walsall Borough | 2 | 81.63x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 7.06x |
| Brockton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Chatham | 1 | 11.38x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.95x |
| Epsom | 1 | 45.05x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.91x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 6.86x |
| Hook Norton | 1 | 250.00x |
| Hurstpierpoint | 1 | 113.64x |
| Portsea | 1 | 2.66x |
| Portslade | 1 | 103.09x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jester surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jester surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jester households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 15 |
| Unemployed | 4 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Butcher | 3 |
| Grocer | 2 |
| Skinner | 2 |
| (Gen) Salesman | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Assistant | 1 |
| Butcher Unemployed | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carrier | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Copper Plate Engraver (Artist) | 1 |
| Corn Factor And Grocer | 1 |
| Curriers Labourer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| General Man Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| General Serv (Domestic) | 1 |
| Grocer Assistant | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| Iron Roller | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer In Ironworks | 1 |
| Refreshment House Keeper | 1 |
| Safe Fitter | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Shoe Finisher | 1 |
| Shoe Fitter | 1 |
| Shoe Machinist | 1 |
| White Smith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Jester surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Jester a modern rank of #33,948.
An occupational surname referring to a professional jokester, clown, or entertainer in medieval courts.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jester bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.