Jeffcoat last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Jeffcoat is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Jeffcoat.

Meaning of Jeffcoat

A surname derived from a nickname for a person who wore a jacket or coat made of a thick material.

Jeffcoat, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Jeffcoat surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jeffcoat in America

Jeffcoat is the 7549th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jeffcoat surname appeared 4,406 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Jeffcoat.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jeffcoat to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 7549 7360 2.54%
Count 4,406 4,172 5.46%
Proportion per 100k 1.49 1.55 -3.95%

The history of the last name Jeffcoat

The surname JEFFCOAT is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from a combination of the personal name "Jeff" and the occupational term "coat," referring to a coat maker or tailor.

The earliest known record of the JEFFCOAT surname can be traced back to the county of Lancashire in northern England. The name was likely derived from the Old English words "geof" meaning "gift" and "cot" meaning "cottage" or "small dwelling." This suggests that the original bearer of the name may have lived in a small dwelling and been associated with the trade of tailoring or coat-making.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the JEFFCOAT surname appears in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332, where a John Jeffcot is listed as a taxpayer. This document provides evidence of the name's existence and its association with the Lancashire region during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the JEFFCOAT name was documented in the parish records of Wigan, Lancashire, where several families with this surname were recorded. One notable figure from this era was William Jeffcoat (1540-1616), a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Wigan.

As the JEFFCOAT surname spread across England in the following centuries, it underwent various spelling variations, including Jeffcott, Jeffcote, and Jeffcoats. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the individual preferences of scribes and record keepers.

In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the JEFFCOAT name was James Jeffcoat (1720-1793), a successful businessman and landowner in the city of Bristol. His wealth and influence were substantial, and he was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting local charities and educational institutions.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Jeffcoat (1789-1855), a British naval officer and explorer who played a significant role in the exploration and mapping of the Pacific Ocean. His exploits and contributions to maritime navigation earned him a knighthood and a place in the annals of British naval history.

Moving into the 19th century, the JEFFCOAT name continued to be represented across various fields. One notable individual was Emily Jeffcoat (1844-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She established several successful schools and was an active campaigner for women's suffrage in England.

In the realm of literature, the JEFFCOAT surname is associated with the English poet and writer, Thomas Jeffcoat (1872-1942). His works, which often celebrated the beauty of nature and rural life, were widely acclaimed and contributed to the literary landscape of the early 20th century.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diversity of individuals who have borne the JEFFCOAT surname throughout the centuries. While the name's origins can be traced back to the coat-making trade in medieval Lancashire, it has since transcended its occupational roots and become a part of the tapestry of English heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jeffcoat

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Jeffcoat.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Jeffcoat was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 80.64% 3,553
Non-Hispanic Black Only 14.75% 650
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.30% 13
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.75% 33
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 2.00% 88
Hispanic Origin 1.57% 69

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Jeffcoat has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 80.64% 82.98% -2.86%
Black 14.75% 13.59% 8.19%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.30% 0.19% 44.90%
American Indian and Alaskan Native 0.75% 0.46% 47.93%
Two or More Races 2.00% 1.70% 16.22%
Hispanic 1.57% 1.08% 36.98%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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"Jeffcoat last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/jeffcoat-surname-popularity/.

"Jeffcoat last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/jeffcoat-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 November, 2024

Jeffcoat last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/jeffcoat-surname-popularity/.

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