NameCensus.

UK surname

Jolliffe

An English surname derived from the medieval French name Jollif, meaning "joyful" or "cheerful."

In the 1881 census there were 1,340 people recorded with the Jolliffe surname, ranking it #3,059 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,594, ranked #3,893, down from #3,059 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Brading. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Isle of Wight and Weymouth and Portland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jolliffe is 1,720 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.0%.

1881 census count

1,340

Ranked #3,059

Modern count

1,594

2016, ranked #3,893

Peak year

2002

1,720 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jolliffe had 1,340 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,059 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,594 in 2016, ranked #3,893.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,699 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Jolliffe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jolliffe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jolliffe 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 880 #3,107
1861 historical 830 #3,320
1881 historical 1,340 #3,059
1891 historical 1,336 #3,261
1901 historical 1,613 #3,209
1911 historical 1,699 #2,889
1997 modern 1,634 #3,628
1998 modern 1,691 #3,644
1999 modern 1,698 #3,664
2000 modern 1,697 #3,648
2001 modern 1,667 #3,638
2002 modern 1,720 #3,619
2003 modern 1,665 #3,648
2004 modern 1,652 #3,671
2005 modern 1,614 #3,710
2006 modern 1,573 #3,787
2007 modern 1,570 #3,822
2008 modern 1,587 #3,820
2009 modern 1,607 #3,862
2010 modern 1,629 #3,898
2011 modern 1,632 #3,848
2012 modern 1,621 #3,800
2013 modern 1,627 #3,862
2014 modern 1,634 #3,869
2015 modern 1,618 #3,864
2016 modern 1,594 #3,893

Geography

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Where Jolliffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, Brading and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Isle of Wight and Weymouth and Portland. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brading Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 012 West Dorset
2 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
3 Isle of Wight 009 Isle of Wight
4 Isle of Wight 005 Isle of Wight
5 Weymouth and Portland 004 Weymouth and Portland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jolliffe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jolliffe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jolliffe, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Jolliffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Jolliffe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jolliffe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Jolliffe is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jolliffe falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jolliffe

The surname Jolliffe is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to someone who hailed from a place called "Joliffe" or a similar-sounding location.

One theory suggests that the name derives from the Old French words "jolif" or "joli," meaning "cheerful" or "pretty." This could indicate that the name referred to someone who lived in a pleasant or attractive place. Alternatively, it may have been a nickname initially given to a person with a cheerful or attractive demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Jolliffe can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Jolyfe." This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various documents and records, such as the "Feet of Fines" for Essex in 1554, where it is spelled "Jollyffe." This suggests that the surname had gained wider recognition and usage by that time.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Jolliffe include:

1. John Jolliffe (c. 1552-1624), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Petersfield in 1597. 2. William Jolliffe (1611-1672), an English politician who served as Member of Parliament for Petersfield from 1640 to 1653. 3. Sir William Jolliffe (1660-1750), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Petersfield from 1701 to 1722. 4. John Jolliffe (1768-1843), an English politician and landowner who served as Member of Parliament for Petersfield from 1802 to 1832. 5. Hylton Jolliffe (1892-1976), a British Army officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Military Cross in 1917.

While the Jolliffe surname is not as prevalent as some other English surnames, it has left its mark on various historical records and documents. Its origins can be traced back to medieval times, reflecting the rich tapestry of English naming traditions and the evolution of surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jolliffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jolliffe 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 498 Jolliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.46x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 498 18.46x
Dorset 137 15.86x
Middlesex 97 0.74x
Yorkshire 82 0.63x
Surrey 71 1.11x
Devon 69 2.52x
Lancashire 66 0.42x
Wiltshire 43 3.69x
Essex 34 1.31x
Cornwall 31 2.08x
Warwickshire 22 0.66x
Cheshire 20 0.69x
Kent 19 0.42x
Somerset 19 0.90x
Lanarkshire 15 0.35x
Derbyshire 14 0.68x
Hertfordshire 14 1.54x
Sussex 14 0.63x
Durham 12 0.31x
Glamorgan 10 0.44x
Gloucestershire 9 0.35x
Lincolnshire 8 0.38x
Berkshire 7 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.88x
Royal Navy 7 4.46x
Staffordshire 7 0.16x
Shropshire 6 0.53x
Oxfordshire 3 0.37x
Angus 2 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.50x

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 95 Jolliffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.97x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 95 17.97x
Ryde 66 113.91x
Carisbrooke 53 141.52x
Brading 43 119.94x
Northwood 43 111.95x
Melcombe Regis 35 97.79x
Portland 31 66.75x
Newchurch 25 408.50x
St Helens 25 127.49x
Bonchurch 21 690.79x
Kensington London 19 2.60x
Lambeth 19 1.66x
Birmingham 16 1.45x
Brotherton 16 305.93x
West Derby 16 3.50x
Weymouth 14 85.57x
Clevedon 13 59.01x
Everton 13 2.61x
Arreton 12 138.73x
Bishopwearmouth 12 3.57x
Stoke Damerel 12 6.26x
Heaton Norris 11 12.38x
Holsworthy 11 142.30x
Shaftesbury St James 11 243.90x
Govan 10 0.95x
Portisham 10 310.56x
Shanklin 10 124.38x
St George Hanover Square 10 4.31x
Derby St Peter 9 13.72x
Epsom 9 28.80x
Toxteth Park 9 1.70x
Wanstead 9 19.78x
Wivenhoe 9 87.21x
Bermondsey 8 2.04x
Dartmouth Townstall 8 71.68x
Donhead St Andrew 8 223.46x
Godshill 8 128.41x
Great Grimsby 8 5.99x
Hemel Hempstead 8 19.57x
Newport 8 54.68x
Paddington London 8 1.65x
Shoreditch London 8 1.40x
St George Bloomsbury 8 10.60x
Alverstoke 7 7.17x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 2.88x
Camberwell 7 0.83x
Chelsea London 7 1.77x
Devizes St John 7 80.09x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 7 100.00x
East Knoyle 7 177.22x
Fulham London 7 3.67x
Hammersmith London 7 2.16x
Laneast 7 598.29x
Leigh 7 384.62x
Northbourne 7 163.93x
Royal Navy 7 5.22x
Southampton St Mary 7 4.13x
St Issey 7 229.51x
St Marylebone London 7 1.00x
Stratton 7 86.63x
Ventnor 7 27.29x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 4.94x
Battersea 6 1.24x
Hertford St John 6 44.38x
Hughenden 6 73.89x
Liversedge 6 10.34x
Mile End 6 126.32x
Normanton 6 15.31x
Puddletown 6 113.42x
Ringwood 6 34.76x
Sheffield 6 1.45x
Streatham 6 6.15x
Wellesbourne Hastings 6 191.08x
West Ham 6 1.05x
Westbury 6 102.21x
Whippingham 6 29.38x
Newington 5 1.03x
Nunton With Bodenham 5 375.94x
Singleton 5 200.00x
Yetminster 5 155.76x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Jolliffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jolliffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,340 people were recorded with the Jolliffe surname. That placed it at #3,059 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jolliffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,594 in 2016. That gives Jolliffe a modern rank of #3,893.

What does the Jolliffe surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval French name Jollif, meaning "joyful" or "cheerful."

What does the Jolliffe map show?

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