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

Jen, 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 Jen surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jen in America

Jen is the 19654th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jen surname appeared 1,371 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Jen.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jen 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 Jen

The surname JEN originated in England, with its earliest known origins dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name "Jenkin," a diminutive form of the name John. This name was relatively common in medieval England and was often used as a surname to identify individuals by their given name or a variant of it.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname JEN can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Jenken." This document was a census-like survey conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I, and it provides valuable insights into the names and occupations of people living at that time.

The name JEN is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which were tax records compiled during the reign of King Edward III. These records list individuals with the surname JEN, such as John Jen and William Jen, residing in various counties across England.

In the 14th century, the surname JEN appeared in various spellings, including Jenne, Jennye, and Jenney. This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname JEN was Sir Thomas Jen (c. 1420-1490), a prominent English soldier and member of the gentry. He served in the Wars of the Roses and was knighted for his military service.

Another prominent individual with the surname JEN was William Jen (c. 1550-1621), an English clergyman and author. He served as the Bishop of Peterborough and wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

In the 17th century, the surname JEN was also found in Scotland, where it was sometimes spelled as "Jenn." One notable Scottish bearer of this name was Robert Jenn (c. 1620-1680), a prominent merchant and landowner in Edinburgh.

The surname JEN can also be traced back to place names in England, such as Jenkin's Bridge in Yorkshire and Jenkin's Farm in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname JEN who resided in or owned land in those areas.

Throughout history, the surname JEN has been borne by many individuals of varying backgrounds and occupations, from soldiers and clergymen to merchants and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to medieval England, the name has endured and spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the diverse and rich history of surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jen

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

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

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

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