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

Jeffords, 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 Jeffords surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jeffords in America

Jeffords is the 13867th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jeffords surname appeared 2,179 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 Jeffords.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jeffords 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 Jeffords

The surname Jeffords originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "geof" meaning "gift" and "ford" meaning "ford" or "river crossing," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a ford or river crossing that was considered a gift or valuable resource.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jeffords can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the spelling used in this document was "Gefordis," which is an early variation of the modern Jeffords.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various medieval records and documents, often spelled as "Jefford," "Jefforde," or "Jeffords." These variations likely reflect regional differences in pronunciation and spelling conventions at the time.

One notable individual bearing the Jeffords surname was Sir John Jeffords, who lived in the 15th century. He was a member of the English gentry and served as a knight during the Wars of the Roses. Records indicate that he was born around 1420 and died in 1487.

In the 16th century, the name Jeffords appeared in connection with several place names in England, such as Jeffords Holt in Shropshire and Jeffords Green in Buckinghamshire. These place names suggest that the surname may have originated from specific locations where early bearers of the name resided.

Another prominent figure with the Jeffords surname was Thomas Jeffords, a Puritan minister who lived during the 17th century. He was born in England around 1620 and later emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in North America, where he served as a minister in various Congregational churches until his death in 1695.

In the 18th century, the name Jeffords can be found in records related to the American Revolutionary War. One such individual was Samuel Jeffords, a soldier from Connecticut who fought in the Continental Army during the conflict. He was born in 1755 and died in 1825.

Moving into the 19th century, the surname Jeffords continued to be present in both England and North America. One notable bearer was Alfred Jeffords, an English architect who was born in 1835 and designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the National Gallery.

Throughout its history, the surname Jeffords has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including nobility, clergy, soldiers, and professionals. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns and histories of those who bore the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jeffords

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

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

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

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