The name Jeffrey originated from an Ancient Germanic name. It is a compound name derived from the words "gavi" meaning district and "frid" meaning peace. The name can be roughly translated to mean "peace district" or "peaceful region". The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "Gaufridus" in the 12th century.

The name first gained popularity in medieval England and Normandy during the Middle Ages. It spread throughout Western Europe as the Normans expanded their territories. During this time, the name was also adopted into the French language and took on the spelling of "Geoffroy" in France.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou in the 12th century. He was the father of King Henry II of England and laid the foundations for the Plantagenet dynasty that ruled England for several centuries.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the literary works of Chaucer, who included characters named Geoffrey in his famous Canterbury Tales. This helped to further popularize the name in English-speaking regions.

Another notable bearer of the name was Geoffrey Chaucer himself, the famous English poet and author who lived from around 1343 to 1400. He is considered the father of English literature and his works had a significant influence on the development of the English language.

In the 15th century, Geoffrey Tate served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1473. He was a prominent figure in the city's governance during that era.

Fast forward to the 20th century, and one of the most famous bearers of the name was Geoffrey Boycott, the English cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England between 1962 and 1986. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in the history of the sport.