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

Jolliffe, 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 Jolliffe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Jolliffe in America

Jolliffe is the 24934th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Jolliffe surname appeared 997 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 Jolliffe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Jolliffe 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 Jolliffe

The surname Jolliffe is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to someone who hailed from a place called "Joliffe" or a similar-sounding location.

One theory suggests that the name derives from the Old French words "jolif" or "joli," meaning "cheerful" or "pretty." This could indicate that the name referred to someone who lived in a pleasant or attractive place. Alternatively, it may have been a nickname initially given to a person with a cheerful or attractive demeanor.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Jolliffe can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Jolyfe." This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various documents and records, such as the "Feet of Fines" for Essex in 1554, where it is spelled "Jollyffe." This suggests that the surname had gained wider recognition and usage by that time.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Jolliffe include:

1. John Jolliffe (c. 1552-1624), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Petersfield in 1597.
2. William Jolliffe (1611-1672), an English politician who served as Member of Parliament for Petersfield from 1640 to 1653.
3. Sir William Jolliffe (1660-1750), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Petersfield from 1701 to 1722.
4. John Jolliffe (1768-1843), an English politician and landowner who served as Member of Parliament for Petersfield from 1802 to 1832.
5. Hylton Jolliffe (1892-1976), a British Army officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Military Cross in 1917.

While the Jolliffe surname is not as prevalent as some other English surnames, it has left its mark on various historical records and documents. Its origins can be traced back to medieval times, reflecting the rich tapestry of English naming traditions and the evolution of surnames over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Jolliffe

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

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

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

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