Jefferson first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Jefferson has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Jefferson

A masculine name of English origin relating to someone from the town of Jeffers.

Popularity of Jefferson by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jefferson is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 339 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Jefferson.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 339 0
2022 331 0
2021 357 0
2020 356 0
2019 326 0
2018 364 0
2017 353 0
2016 432 0
2015 378 0
2014 439 0
2013 414 0
2012 394 0
2011 325 0
2010 363 0
2009 444 0
2008 419 0
2007 417 0
2006 359 0
2005 348 0
2004 310 0
2003 249 0
2002 254 0
2001 225 0
2000 243 0
1999 287 0
1998 227 0
1997 236 0
1996 236 0
1995 241 0
1994 225 0
1993 266 0
1992 209 0
1991 224 0
1990 207 0
1989 186 0
1988 170 0
1987 145 0
1986 153 0
1985 170 0
1984 159 0
1983 139 0
1982 158 0
1981 182 0
1980 176 0
1979 175 0
1978 164 0
1977 161 0
1976 194 0
1975 177 0
1974 234 0

The history of the first name Jefferson

The given name Jefferson has its origins in the English language and can be traced back to the Middle English period, specifically around the 13th century. It is derived from the surname "Jeffries" or "Jeffreys," which itself comes from the Norman French personal name "Geffrei" or "Geoffroy." This name ultimately has its roots in the Germanic name "Godefrid," meaning "peace" and "peace-maker."

The name Jefferson likely emerged as a variant of the surname Jeffries, with the addition of the suffix "-son," which was commonly used to denote someone's son or descendant. This practice of creating given names from surnames was not uncommon during the medieval period and beyond.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jefferson can be found in the 14th century, where it appears in various historical records and documents. However, it did not become widely popular until much later, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jefferson. The most famous of these is undoubtedly Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the third President of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson was a prominent figure during the American Revolution and played a crucial role in the founding of the United States.

Another notable Jefferson was Blind Lemon Jefferson (1893-1929), an influential blues singer and guitarist from Texas. His distinctive style and guitar playing techniques had a lasting impact on the development of blues music.

In the realm of literature, Thomas Jefferson Hogg (1792-1862) was an English writer and biographer best known for his close friendship with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Hogg's memoir of Shelley, published in 1858, provided valuable insights into the life and personality of the renowned Romantic poet.

Richard Jefferson (born 1980) is a former professional basketball player who spent 17 seasons in the NBA, winning a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. He was known for his versatility and defensive prowess on the court.

Finally, Jefferson Davis (1808-1889) was an American political leader who served as the President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. His leadership and unwavering support for the Confederacy earned him a place in the history books, albeit a controversial one.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Jefferson, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's legacy.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jefferson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jefferson, please contact us.

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"Jefferson first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jefferson-meaning-and-history/.

"Jefferson first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jefferson-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Jefferson first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jefferson-meaning-and-history/.

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