UK surname
Anglicized form of the Scandinavian patronymic meaning "son of Jon".
In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Jons surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #22,225 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley and Festiniog. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jons is 887 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.3%.
1881 census count
80
Ranked #22,225
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1861
887 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jons surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jons 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 | 292 | #7,807 |
| 1861 | historical | 887 | #3,126 |
| 1881 | historical | 80 | #22,225 |
| 1891 | historical | 742 | #5,363 |
| 1901 | historical | 268 | #12,553 |
| 1911 | historical | 305 | #11,307 |
| 1997 | modern | 52 | #32,444 |
| 1998 | modern | 50 | #32,899 |
| 1999 | modern | 36 | #34,323 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 26 | #35,338 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 38 | #35,514 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 55 | #34,628 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley, Festiniog, Gateshead and St Pancras. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Festiniog | Merionethshire |
| 4 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jons 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 Jons, 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 Jons surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jons 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, Jons 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 Jons is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jons, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname JONS is of English origin, emerging in the medieval period around the 13th century. It is derived from the given name John, which itself comes from the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning "Graced by God." The addition of the possessive "s" was a common practice in English surnames, indicating the son or offspring of someone named John.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the JONS surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a "Radulfus Jonessone" from Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was already present in various forms during the late 13th century.
JONS is also believed to have been influenced by the Old Norse name "Jón," which shares the same root as the English John. This could indicate that the surname may have had roots in areas of England where Norse settlers had a stronger presence, such as the north and east.
In the 14th century, the JONS surname appears in various records, including the Poll Tax of 1379, which mentions a "Johannes Jonessone" from Yorkshire. This indicates that the name had spread across different regions of England by this time.
Notable historical figures with the JONS surname include Sir John Jons (c. 1564-1638), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Carmarthenshire in the early 17th century. Another prominent individual was Richard Jons (c. 1570-1636), a Welsh Catholic priest and translator who published works in both English and Welsh.
In the 16th century, the JONS surname was also present in Scotland, with records showing a William Jons from Ayrshire in 1561. This suggests that the name had spread across the border and taken root in parts of Scotland as well.
Other notable individuals with the JONS surname include Thomas Jons (c. 1550-1619), an English clergyman and author, and William Jons (c. 1675-1745), a Welsh poet and writer who composed works in both Welsh and English.
Throughout its history, the JONS surname has undergone various spellings and variations, such as Jones, Jonnes, and Jonnson, reflecting the fluid nature of surnames in earlier periods. However, the core meaning and origin remain rooted in the given name John and its patronymic form.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jons 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. Northumberland leads with 22 Jons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.19x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 22 | 19.19x |
| Durham | 14 | 6.11x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.40x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.18x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.77x |
| Cardiganshire | 3 | 15.97x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.80x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 3.59x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.73x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 3.21x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.75x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.63x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.17x |
| Merionethshire | 1 | 7.09x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.13x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.50x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.81x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newburn in Northumberland leads with 11 Jons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newburn | 11 | 3333.33x |
| Gateshead | 8 | 46.62x |
| Thornaby | 8 | 280.70x |
| Battersea | 7 | 24.69x |
| Widnes | 7 | 106.22x |
| Stranton | 6 | 77.72x |
| Whittingham | 4 | 2857.14x |
| Longhurst | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Alnwick | 2 | 101.52x |
| Bedwellty | 2 | 20.35x |
| Govan | 2 | 3.25x |
| Llanfihangel Y Croyddyn | 2 | 303.03x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 2.99x |
| Broadwater | 1 | 33.56x |
| Clapham | 1 | 10.38x |
| Cwmdu | 1 | 61.35x |
| Hartshead | 1 | 294.12x |
| Hoole | 1 | 156.25x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 4.80x |
| Llanbadarn Fawr | 1 | 400.00x |
| Llanfihangel Y Traethau | 1 | 125.00x |
| Portsea | 1 | 3.23x |
| Shipley | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Sonning | 1 | 156.25x |
| South Charlton | 1 | 3333.33x |
| St Martin | 1 | 135.14x |
| Wilton | 1 | 312.50x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 23.75x |
| Ynyscynhaiarn | 1 | 68.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jons 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 Jons 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 Jons households.
FAQ
In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Jons surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Jons a modern rank of #33,100.
Anglicized form of the Scandinavian patronymic meaning "son of Jon".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jons 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.