UK surname
A surname derived from a diminutive form of the name Julian or Juliana.
In the 1881 census there were 30 people recorded with the Jill surname, ranking it #29,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 77, ranked #33,236, down from #29,363 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Lambeth and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jill is 142 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 156.7%.
1881 census count
30
Ranked #29,363
Modern count
77
2016, ranked #33,236
Peak year
1861
142 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jill surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jill surname density by area, 1891 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 142 | #15,982 |
| 1881 | historical | 30 | #29,363 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 15 | #32,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 14 | #37,124 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 41 | #35,328 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 54 | #34,675 |
| 2016 | modern | 77 | #33,236 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Lambeth, Nottingham St Mary, Preston 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 2 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | Nottingham St Mary | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Giles Camberwell | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jill 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 Jill, 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 Jill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jill 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, Jill 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 Jill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Jill is of English origin and is believed to have originated as a nickname derived from the given name Gillian or Julia. The name can be traced back to the Middle English period, around the 12th to 15th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Jill can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Adam Jill is mentioned. This suggests that the surname was already in use as a hereditary name by that time.
The name Jill is thought to have evolved from the Old French name Gille or Gille, which was a diminutive form of the name Gillian or Julian. These names were derived from the Latin name Julianus, meaning "descendant of Julius."
In the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are several entries that mention individuals with the name Gille or similar spellings, which could be the predecessors of the surname Jill.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Jill was Sir John Jill, a prominent English knight who lived in the 14th century. He was mentioned in various historical records and chronicles from that time period.
Another notable individual with the surname Jill was William Jill, a wealthy merchant and landowner from London, who lived in the 15th century. He was involved in various trade ventures and owned properties in the city.
In the 16th century, there was a family of Jills who resided in the village of Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. They were known for their involvement in the local pottery industry, which was a significant trade in the area at that time.
A famous bearer of the surname Jill was John Jill, an English author and poet who lived in the 17th century. He was known for his satirical works and plays, which were popular during the Restoration period.
Another individual worth mentioning is Mary Jill, a prominent Quaker preacher and activist who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. She traveled extensively throughout England and the American colonies, advocating for religious tolerance and social reform.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jill 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. Gloucestershire leads with 8 Jills recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.68x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 8 | 12.68x |
| Surrey | 6 | 3.83x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 7.04x |
| Channel Islands | 3 | 31.48x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 2.76x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 3.70x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.82x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.58x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.31x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 5.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheltenham in Gloucestershire leads with 6 Jills recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.20x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham | 6 | 123.20x |
| Lambeth | 5 | 17.83x |
| Stockport | 5 | 136.99x |
| Exhall | 3 | 2500.00x |
| St Peter Port | 3 | 170.45x |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 35.93x |
| Bristol St Mary Redcliff | 2 | 350.88x |
| Cowley | 1 | 161.29x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 1 | 94.34x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 26.60x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 17.09x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 16.47x |
| Waltham Holy Cross | 1 | 169.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jill 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 Jill 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 Jill households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Teacher | 3 |
| Throstle Jobber | 3 |
| Ribbon Weaver | 2 |
| Agriculture Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Apprentice | 1 |
| At Home | 1 |
| Card Room (Cotton Mill) | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Dealer Wife | 1 |
| Haulier | 1 |
| Joiner & Carpenter | 1 |
| Professor Education Training College | 1 |
| Professors Wife | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Serv (Dom) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 30 people were recorded with the Jill surname. That placed it at #29,363 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 77 in 2016. That gives Jill a modern rank of #33,236.
A surname derived from a diminutive form of the name Julian or Juliana.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jill 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.