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

Jeffers, 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 Jeffers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jeffers in America

Jeffers is the 2073rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jeffers surname appeared 17,455 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Jeffers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jeffers 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.

The history of the last name Jeffers

The surname Jeffers is of English origin, stemming from the medieval French personal name "Geoffroi," derived from the Germanic elements "ge" (district) and "frid" (peace), meaning "peace district." It is believed to have been introduced to England during the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Jeffers date back to the 13th century, with references found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it was spelled as "Geffreys." Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, such as Jeffreys, Jeffries, and eventually, Jeffers.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the name was Sir John Jeffreys (c. 1290-1355), a prominent English judge and Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Edward III. His family held lands in Swell, Gloucestershire, and the nearby village of Jeffreys Green was named after them.

Another historically significant figure was George Jeffreys (1645-1689), better known as the "Hanging Judge" for his brutal treatment of defendants during the Bloody Assizes following the Monmouth Rebellion against James II. His ruthless verdicts earned him infamy and contributed to the overthrow of James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the literary realm, John Jeffers (1887-1962), an American poet and playwright born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, gained renown for his works such as "Roan Stallion," "Tamar and Other Poems," and "The Double Axe." His poetry often explored themes of the natural world and the human condition.

The name Jeffers can also be found in historical records from other parts of England, including the parish registers of Reculver, Kent, where the surname appears as early as the 16th century. In Devonshire, the Jeffers family held lands in the parish of Holsworthy, with records dating back to the 17th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Jeffery (1625-1688), an English politician and member of parliament for Beeralston, Devonshire, during the reign of Charles II. He was knighted in 1675 and served as the High Sheriff of Devonshire in 1683.

While the surname Jeffers has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by migrants and descendants of English settlers. Today, the name can be found in various countries, with each branch having its own unique history and connections to the original English lineage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jeffers

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

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 Jeffers was:

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 Jeffers has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Jeffers was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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