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

Jernagin, 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 Jernagin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jernagin in America

Jernagin is the 115034th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jernagin surname appeared 152 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 Jernagin.

The history of the last name Jernagin

The surname Jernagin has its origins in England, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "gærne" meaning "yarn" and "agen" meaning "own," suggesting a possible connection to the textile industry or trade in yarn.

The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, where a John Jernagin was christened in 1591. Around the same time, the name is also found in the nearby village of Driffield, possibly indicating that the family had roots in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

In the 17th century, the Jernagin surname appears in various documents across Yorkshire, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1672 and the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which recorded signatures of individuals opposing the policies of King Charles I. Notable individuals from this period include Robert Jernagin (1620-1688), a landowner in the village of Cottingham.

As the centuries progressed, the Jernagin name spread beyond Yorkshire, with records indicating its presence in other parts of England. In 1795, a Samuel Jernagin was born in Lincolnshire, and later became a prominent figure in the local community, serving as a magistrate and sheriff.

Another notable Jernagin was William Jernagin (1793-1859), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a member of Parliament for the borough of Wigan. His military exploits and political career brought further recognition to the Jernagin name.

While the name has its roots in England, it eventually found its way to other parts of the world, including North America. In the early 19th century, several Jernagin families immigrated to the United States, settling in various regions, particularly in the Southern states.

Among the notable American Jernagins was Spencer Jernagin (1796-1857), a lawyer and politician from Tennessee who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and as the 11th Governor of Tennessee. Another prominent figure was Robert Jernagin (1841-1915), a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War and later a judge in Texas.

Throughout its history, the Jernagin surname has maintained a strong presence, with individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in various fields, from politics and law to military service and community leadership.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jernagin

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

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 Jernagin 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.

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

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

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