Jerril
Derived from French word "gervais", meaning "meadow watch".
Name Census estimates that about 16 living Americans carry the first name Jerril. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Jerril today is around 62 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jerril births was 1952 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jerril. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Jerril. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
16
~ 1 in 21,422,146 Americans
Peak year
1952
7 babies that year
Average age
62
years old
1993 SSA rank
#9,385
Tracked since 1942
Popularity
Jerril: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jerril from the 1940s through to the 1990s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 7 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1950s peak, Jerril remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jerril by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Jerril during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jerril
The name Jerril is believed to have originated from the English language, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant or diminutive form of the more common name Gerald, which itself is derived from the Germanic elements "ger" meaning "spear" and "waldan" meaning "to rule."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jerril can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as a reference to a landowner, suggesting its use during the Norman period.
In the realm of literature, the name Jerril is mentioned in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, the renowned English poet and author of the 14th century. Specifically, it appears in his famous Canterbury Tales, though it is unclear whether the reference is to a fictional character or a real person.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Jerril. One such figure was Jerril Mungo (1530-1598), an English merchant and explorer who is credited with establishing trade routes between England and the East Indies. His voyages and contributions to the expansion of British maritime commerce during the Renaissance period have been well-documented.
Another prominent Jerril was Jerril Wyndham (1645-1712), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King William III. He was known for his influential role in shaping policies related to agriculture and land management.
In the realm of arts and culture, Jerril Bradshaw (1785-1862) was a celebrated English painter renowned for his landscape paintings capturing the scenic beauty of the English countryside. His works were highly sought after during the Victorian era and can be found in various art galleries and museums across the United Kingdom.
Moving into the 20th century, Jerril Danvers (1902-1978) was a British journalist and war correspondent who covered major events such as World War II and the Korean War. His fearless reporting and firsthand accounts from the frontlines earned him widespread recognition and several prestigious awards.
Lastly, Jerril Marlowe (1920-2005) was a British actor and stage performer who enjoyed a long and successful career in theater. He was particularly acclaimed for his portrayal of Shakespearean characters and is remembered for his versatility and commanding stage presence.
People
Jerril + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jerril as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jerril: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jerril?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 16 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jerril going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 21,422,146 US residents.
Is Jerril a common name?
We classify Jerril as "Very Rare". It ranks above 36.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 22 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jerril most popular?
The single biggest year for Jerril was 1952, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jerril is about 62 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jerril a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jerril in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.