NameCensus.

UK surname

Jone

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name John, meaning "Yahweh is gracious".

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Jone surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 220, ranked #18,376, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Conwy and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jone is 1,450 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 88.0%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

220

2016, ranked #18,376

Peak year

1861

1,450 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jone had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 220 in 2016, ranked #18,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,450 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Jone surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jone surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Jone 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 476 #5,228
1861 historical 1,450 #1,959
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 1,356 #3,206
1901 historical 203 #14,969
1911 historical 1,008 #4,514
1997 modern 446 #10,142
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 265 #15,187
2000 modern 182 #19,300
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 66 #31,821
2003 modern 57 #32,704
2004 modern 65 #32,177
2005 modern 67 #32,196
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 81 #31,408
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 120 #27,124
2011 modern 113 #27,967
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 220 #18,376

Geography

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Where Jones are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley, London parishes, Merthyr Tydfil and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Conwy, Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire and Blaenau Gwent. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 002 Neath Port Talbot
2 Conwy 014 Conwy
3 Gwynedd 015 Gwynedd
4 Carmarthenshire 012 Carmarthenshire
5 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Jone

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Jone

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jone 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

Jone is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jone falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Jone

The surname JONE originated in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Norman-French personal name "Jon", a variation of the biblical name John, meaning "God is gracious". The earliest known spelling of the surname was "Jone", which appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273.

JONE is believed to have originated in the counties of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, where it was particularly prevalent during the Middle Ages. The name can also be found in various historical records from that era, including the Pipe Rolls of Somerset and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was William Jone, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279. Another notable early bearer was Robert Jone, a landowner from Oxfordshire, who was documented in the Feet of Fines records for the county in 1387.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Jones, Jons, and Joanes. It was also associated with certain place names, such as Jonesborough and Jonestown, which likely derived from individuals with the surname JONE who were early settlers in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname JONE throughout history include:

1. Inigo Jones (1573-1652), a renowned English architect who designed notable buildings such as the Queen's House in Greenwich and the Banqueting House in Whitehall.

2. John Paul Jones (1747-1792), a Scottish-born naval captain who gained fame during the American Revolutionary War for his skilled leadership and daring exploits at sea.

3. Sir William Jones (1746-1794), a British philologist and linguist who played a significant role in establishing the field of comparative linguistics and the study of ancient Indian culture.

4. Thomas ap Catesby Jones (1789-1858), an American naval officer who served in the War of 1812 and later became a prominent figure in the United States Navy.

5. Ernest Jones (1819-1869), a British chartist leader and writer who advocated for various political and social reforms in the mid-19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Jone families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jone 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. Middlesex leads with 25 Jones recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.21x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 2.21x
Staffordshire 19 4.97x
Lancashire 16 1.19x
Somerset 13 7.14x
Cardiganshire 9 32.61x
Glamorgan 9 4.57x
Cheshire 3 1.20x
Herefordshire 3 6.47x
Buckinghamshire 2 2.92x
Kent 2 0.52x
Shropshire 2 2.05x
Caernarfonshire 1 2.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.40x
Carmarthenshire 1 2.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.56x
Gloucestershire 1 0.45x
Merionethshire 1 4.83x
Monmouthshire 1 1.22x
Montgomeryshire 1 3.86x
Northamptonshire 1 0.94x
Pembrokeshire 1 2.78x
Surrey 1 0.18x
Warwickshire 1 0.35x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cardigan St Mary in Cardiganshire leads with 9 Jones recorded in 1881 and an index of 849.06x.

Place Total Index
Cardigan St Mary 9 849.06x
Tettenhall 8 341.88x
Yeovil 8 216.22x
Finchley 6 138.25x
Bradford 5 79.62x
Swynnerton 5 1666.67x
Bedminster 4 23.38x
Aberdare 3 22.19x
Kensington London 3 4.77x
Llandaff 3 45.80x
St Pancras London 3 3.29x
Toxteth Park 3 6.60x
West Bromwich 3 13.72x
Ashton On Mersey 2 155.04x
Bletchley 2 1000.00x
Islington London 2 1.82x
Paddington London 2 4.81x
Wednesbury 2 20.96x
Aberdaron 1 212.77x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 3.41x
Aston 1 1.27x
Aughton 1 75.19x
Bedwellty 1 6.93x
Bethnal Green London 1 2.03x
Birkenhead 1 5.02x
Camberwell 1 1.38x
Castleton 1 7.46x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 24.81x
Chelsea London 1 2.93x
Chesterton 1 45.25x
Church Gresley 1 35.46x
Cowbridge 1 208.33x
Drayton In Hales 1 49.51x
Ealing 1 9.89x
Fulham London 1 6.09x
Gloucester St Catherine 1 158.73x
Guisbrough 1 40.82x
Handsworth 1 10.63x
Harmondsworth 1 142.86x
Ledbury 1 62.89x
Lewisham 1 4.86x
Liverpool 1 1.23x
Llanarthney 1 138.89x
Llangwm 1 294.12x
Maentwrog 1 303.03x
Michaelchurch Escely 1 833.33x
Oystermouth 1 65.79x
Pennard 1 1000.00x
Pool 1 51.02x
Prestwich 1 29.85x
Shoreditch London 1 2.04x
Skelmersdale 1 44.64x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 42.92x
St Luke London 1 5.51x
Tretire With 1 1666.67x
Wellingborough 1 18.69x
West Derby 1 2.55x
Westminster St Margaret 1 18.32x
Westonsuper Mare 1 270.27x
Whittington 1 121.95x
Widnes 1 10.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Mary 10
Ann 5
Ellen 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Jane 2
Lizzie 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Isabella 1
Jone 1
Lettice 1
Lucey 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Phebe 1
Prudence 1
Rachel 1
Rissie 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Jone surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jone surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Jone surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jone surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 220 in 2016. That gives Jone a modern rank of #18,376.

What does the Jone surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name John, meaning "Yahweh is gracious".

What does the Jone map show?

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