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

Jeffrey, 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 Jeffrey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jeffrey in America

Jeffrey is the 3257th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jeffrey surname appeared 11,085 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Jeffrey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jeffrey 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 Jeffrey

The surname Jeffrey originated in England, with its roots traced back to the medieval period, specifically the 12th century. It is derived from the ancient Germanic personal name "Godfried" or "Gaufrid," which means "peace" and "fried" or "free." The name underwent various transformations and adaptations throughout history, resulting in the modern English spelling of Jeffrey.

During the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many individuals bearing this name migrated from Normandy to Britain. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various spellings, such as Geffrei, Geffray, and Jefreys.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Geoffrey of Monmouth, a renowned cleric and historian from the 12th century. He is best known for his work "Historia Regum Britanniae" (History of the Kings of Britain), which recounted the legends of King Arthur and played a significant role in shaping the Arthurian mythology.

In the 13th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, the celebrated English poet and author, is considered one of the most famous individuals to bear the name. His literary masterpiece, "The Canterbury Tales," is a landmark work that profoundly influenced the development of English literature.

Other notable figures with the surname Jeffrey include Sir Walter Raleigh, an English writer, explorer, and courtier who lived from 1552 to 1618. He is renowned for his expeditions to the Americas and his role in establishing the first English colony in North America.

In the realm of science, Edward Jeffrey, an English botanist and geologist who lived from 1834 to 1910, made significant contributions to the study of plant anatomy and fossilized plants. His extensive research and publications advanced our understanding of plant structure and evolution.

During the 19th century, George Jeffrey, a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1834 to 1920, played a pivotal role in the development of the steel industry in the United States. He founded the Jeffery Manufacturing Company, which later became part of the Studebaker Corporation, known for producing automobiles and wagons.

The surname Jeffrey has a rich historical lineage, with its origins rooted in medieval England and connections to various notable figures throughout the centuries. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, it continues to carry a distinct legacy and cultural significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jeffrey

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

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

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

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