UK surname
A surname referring to someone who performed odd jobs or day labor.
In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Jobb surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #31,604 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Roach, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jobb is 136 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.4%.
1881 census count
14
Ranked #31,604
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
136 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jobb surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jobb surname density by area, 1861 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 | 20 | #29,743 |
| 1861 | historical | 136 | #16,556 |
| 1881 | historical | 14 | #31,604 |
| 1891 | historical | 30 | #31,889 |
| 1901 | historical | 4 | #33,876 |
| 1911 | historical | 13 | #32,172 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 5 | #37,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 10 | #37,539 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 10 | #37,563 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Roach, Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace, St Pancras, London parishes and Duloe. 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 | Roach | Cornwall |
| 2 | Shrewsbury St Alkmond, St Julian, St Mary (pt), Meole Brace | Shropshire |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Duloe | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jobb 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 Jobb, 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 Jobb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jobb 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, Jobb 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 Jobb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jobb, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname JOBB is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "job" or "jobbe," meaning a lump or mass, referring to someone who worked with lumps or masses of material, such as a stonemason or builder.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname JOBB can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mention a John le Jobbe. This suggests the name was in use by the late 13th century in the West Midlands region of England.
In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, including Jobbe, Jobe, and Jobbs, in records from counties such as Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. This indicates the name was well-established in the southern and western parts of England by this time.
A notable early bearer of the surname was Thomas Jobb, who was born around 1520 in Wiltshire and served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Downton in 1554 and 1555.
Another early example is John Jobbe, a prominent merchant who lived in Bristol in the late 16th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents related to trade and commerce in the city during that period.
In the 17th century, the surname JOBB appears in various parish records across England, such as baptisms, marriages, and burials. For instance, William Jobb was baptized in Swindon, Wiltshire, in 1612, and Edward Jobb was married in Gloucester in 1635.
One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was Richard Jobb, who was born around 1580 in Somerset and served as a magistrate and justice of the peace in the county during the early 17th century.
Another notable figure was Robert Jobb, a renowned architect and builder who was active in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Several churches and manor houses in these counties are attributed to his work.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jobb 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. Cornwall leads with 5 Jobbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.36x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 5 | 32.36x |
| Surrey | 5 | 7.52x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 9.79x |
| Inverness-shire | 1 | 24.57x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 7.79x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 11.86x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Breage in Cornwall leads with 5 Jobbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3571.43x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Breage | 5 | 3571.43x |
| Battersea | 4 | 79.68x |
| Auckinleck | 1 | 312.50x |
| Inverness | 1 | 98.04x |
| Little Faringdon | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Oundle | 1 | 714.29x |
| Streatham | 1 | 99.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jobb 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 Jobb 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 Jobb households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| (Mine) Engine Driver | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Ladys Maid (Dom) | 1 |
| Map & Chart Moniter | 1 |
| Nurse (Dom) | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Jobb surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Jobb a modern rank of #37,501.
A surname referring to someone who performed odd jobs or day labor.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jobb 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.