The Jefferies surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,953 people carried this name — #6,809 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 59,500 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (4,973).

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What the name means

The meaning of the Jefferies surname

Variant of Jeffries.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Jefferies» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Geoffrey’.

An early record he cites: Rogerus Jeffray, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Jeffery, Jefferay, Jefferey, Jefferies, Jefferis, Jefferiss, Jefferys, Jeffrey, Jeffreys, Jeffries, Jeffrie and Jeffry.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 428 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Jefferies was found among the farmers of 7 counties.

It was most frequent in Wiltshire: 70 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 143. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Jefferies and Jeffreys.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Wiltshire 70
Monmouthshire 28
Bedfordshire 20
Berkshire 20
Gloucestershire 17
Suffolk 12
Somerset 10

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Jefferies was counted together with Jeffery: 96 families in all.

Each family is counted by its head. About 523 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The census counted these spellings together: Jeffery, Gaffery, Geffereys, Gefries, Geofroy, Jaffray, Jaffrey, Jafreys, Jeferes, Jeferis, Jefferies, Jefferis, Jefferys, Jeffiries, Jeffres, Jeffress, Jeffrey, Jeffreys, Jeffries, Jeffris, Jeffry, Jeffrys, Jefres, Jefreys, Jefries. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Pennsylvania 19
Maryland 18
Virginia 13
North Carolina 12
Massachusetts 10
Connecticut 8
South Carolina 6
Maine 4
New York 4
New Hampshire 1
Rhode Island 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 247 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Jefferies in American newspapers,
1927.

Newspaper page from The Washington Times carrying the name Jefferies
The Washington Times 1927-03-15
Newspaper page from The Washington Times carrying the name Jefferies
The Washington Times 1927-03-22
Newspaper page from The Washington Times carrying the name Jefferies
The Washington Times 1927-03-09

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 59,690 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Jefferies in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

12,464 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Jefferies. The most, 2,157, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 2.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 4,985
Western Australia 2,081
New South Wales 2,073
South Australia 2,043
Victoria 894
Tasmania 150
ACT (Canberra) 23
Northern Territory 17

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Jefferies.

Who carried it

People named Jefferies,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Mary Jefferies
    Mary Jefferies 1655–1728
  • Richard Jefferies
    Richard Jefferies 1848–1887 · writer
  • Richard Manning Jefferies
    Richard Manning Jefferies 1889–1964 · judge
  • Dorothy Violet Charrington d. 1974
  • Frances Jefferies d. 1767
  • Joyce Jeffreys 1575–1650 · writer

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Jefferies,
in the records of 6 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States443 records

443 records of the Jefferies name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 161
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 91
  • Other U.S. records 191
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Charles E. Jefferies

    Born 1917 in Nebraska. Enlisted 1941 at San Francisco, California; auto mechanic. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1989, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margaret Jefferies

    Arrived at New York in 1853 aboard the Centurion from Liverpool, aged 17; servant. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. A U.S. Army record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864
    Example: U.S. burial record, 1864
    Burial record Robert R. Jefferies

    U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. Born 1936, died 2001; buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Pennsylvania.

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 443 records for Jefferies in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864, U.S. National Archives (public domain).

Australia317 records

317 records of the Jefferies name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 118
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 68
  • Other Australian records 131
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Thomas Jefferies

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Georgiana, sailing from Plymouth in 1828. Native of Staffordshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1838.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Margaret Jefferies

    Arrived in Victoria in 1859 aboard the Royal Bride, aged 12; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Philip W. C. Jefferies

    Former stevedore of Yarraville, Victoria; died 1951.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 317 records for Jefferies in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada37 records

37 records of the Jefferies name in Canada
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 14
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 9
  • Other Canadian records 14
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Raymond Clark Jefferies

    Buried in 1965 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 49.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Elizabeth Irene Jefferies

    Buried in 1994 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 58.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Lucy Jefferies

    Died 1956 in Sydney Mines, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 37 records for Jefferies in Canada.

Counts: City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom30 records

30 records of the Jefferies name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 19
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 10
  • Stirling Council burial records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Isabella Jefferies

    Buried in 1972 at Callander Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 85.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Margaret Jefferies

    Buried in 1828 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 22.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Jefferies

    Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 30 records for Jefferies in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Netherlands8 records

8 records of the Jefferies name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Sarah Victoria Jefferies

    Died 1863 in Vlissingen, aged 24.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Jefferies

    Married in 1689 in Rotterdam; born in Aberdeen.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record John Maurice Jefferies

    Married in 1946 in Helmond.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Jefferies in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand7 records

7 records of the Jefferies name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 5
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Grace Edna Jefferies

    Buried in 1975 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 45.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Richard A. Jefferies

    Died 1990, aged 69; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record E. Jefferies

    Lance Corporal, New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Jefferies in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Jefferies.

When the index is not enough

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