2000
#69,854
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 262
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.10
Very Rare Last name
Jervey
A variation of the French surname Gervaise, originating from the medieval name Gervas.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 342 Americans carry the last name Jervey. That puts it at #70,715 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,002,206 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Jervey surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
342
1 in 1,002,206
Census rank
#70,715
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
298
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 298 bearers of the surname Jervey in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 70715th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Jervey, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.7%. The next largest groups are Black (33.2%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Jervey
The surname Jervey has its roots in the Anglo-Norman language and is believed to have originated from the French region of Normandy. It is thought to have derived from the Old French personal name "Gervais," which itself is a variant of the Germanic name "Gerveis," meaning "spear ruler."
The earliest known record of the name Jervey can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gervais" or "Gerveis." This comprehensive survey of land ownership in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the surname's origins.
In the 12th century, the name Jervey began to appear in various English records, often with spellings such as "Jerveis," "Jerveis," and "Jerveyce." These variations reflect the influence of regional dialects and the evolving nature of language over time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Jervey was Sir John Jervey, a prominent landowner in Gloucestershire, England, who lived during the 13th century. Another notable figure was Thomas Jervey, a merchant from Bristol, England, who was involved in the lucrative wool trade in the late 14th century.
In the 16th century, the Jervey family established themselves in the county of Kent, where they held estates and played an influential role in local affairs. One notable member was William Jervey (1510-1587), who served as a justice of the peace and was involved in various legal and administrative roles.
The surname Jervey also has ties to the region of Normandy in France, where it is believed to have originated. In the 17th century, a branch of the Jervey family settled in the Channel Islands, particularly on the island of Jersey. One prominent figure from this branch was Philip Jervey (1638-1712), a successful merchant and landowner in St. Helier, Jersey.
As the centuries passed, the Jervey name spread to other parts of the world, including the British colonies in North America. One notable American with this surname was Thomas Jervey (1762-1838), a wealthy plantation owner from South Carolina who played a significant role in the state's political and economic affairs during the early years of the United States.
Throughout its long history, the surname Jervey has been associated with various occupations and social standings, from landowners and merchants to professionals and public servants. While its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Norman era, the name has endured and evolved, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and migrations that have shaped its legacy over the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Jervey
Among Census respondents with the surname Jervey, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.7%. The next largest groups are Black (33.2%) and Two or More Races (3.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Jervey bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Jervey surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White59.7% · 178
- Black or African American33.2% · 99
- Two or more races3.7% · 11
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.3% · 7
- Hispanic or Latino0.7% · 2
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Jervey
Jervey appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#66,931
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 295
+33 bearers (+12.6%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Up 2,923 places
2020
#70,715
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 298
+3 bearers (+1.0%)
Per 100,000 0.10
Rank movement Down 3,784 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #69,854 | 262 | 0.10 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #66,931 | 295 | 0.10 | +33 bearers (+12.6%) | Up 2,923 places |
| 2020 | #70,715 | 298 | 0.10 | +3 bearers (+1.0%) | Down 3,784 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Jervey surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #66,931 | #70,715 | -5.7% |
| Count | 295 | 298 | 1.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.10 | 0.10 | -0.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Jervey bearers went from 295 to 298 (+1.0% change). The surname moved down 3,784 positions in the national ranking, going from #66,931 to #70,715.
FAQ
Jervey surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Jervey?
Name Census estimates that about 342 living Americans carry the surname Jervey. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 1,002,206 residents.
How common is Jervey?
Jervey ranks #70,715 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.10 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 298 people with the surname Jervey. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (342), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.1 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.10 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Jervey.
Has Jervey become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Jervey went from 295 recorded bearers to 298. That is an increase of 3 (+1.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #66,931 to #70,715.
What does the Census say about the background of Jervey?
Among Census respondents with the surname Jervey, the largest self-reported group is White at 59.7%. The next largest groups are Black (33.2%) and Two or More Races (3.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Jervey in the 2020 Census, accounting for 59.7% (178 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Jervey appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (59.7%), Black (33.2%), Two or More Races (3.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Jervey (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Jervey mean?
A variation of the French surname Gervaise, originating from the medieval name Gervas. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Jervey (0.10 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How common is the surname Jervey?
See how many people have the surname Jervey on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.