The Jeffrey surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,085 people carried this name — #3,257 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,600 people counted. That is up 1% from 10,925 in 2000.

Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Jeffrey surname

A surname originating as a patronymic derived from Geoffrey.

Variant of Geoffrey.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Jeffrey» (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, 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.

In Scotland’s registers today

Jeffrey was recorded 62 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 432nd most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 101. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

In 1790, Jeffrey 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

Jeffrey in American newspapers,
1905.

Newspaper page from The San Angelo Press carrying the name Jeffrey
The San Angelo Press 1905-02-02
Newspaper page from The Denison Review carrying the name Jeffrey
The Denison Review 1905-03-29
Newspaper page from San Antonio Daily Light carrying the name Jeffrey
San Antonio Daily Light 1905-12-17

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 3,054 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Jeffrey in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

70,485 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Jeffrey. The most, 11,254, date from the 1910s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Victoria, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Victoria 21,163
New South Wales 16,460
South Australia 9,867
Queensland 9,847
Western Australia 6,841
Tasmania 5,192
ACT (Canberra) 726
Northern Territory 39

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

Who carried it

People named Jeffrey,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
    Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey 1773–1850 · judge
  • Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
    Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey 1773–1850 · judge
  • Charles Jeffrey d. 1915 · association football player
  • Hester Jeffrey d. 1691
  • Alice Anne Jeffrey d. 1864
  • Kathleen May Jeffrey d. 1922

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 Jeffrey,
in the records of 8 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 States1,300 records

1,300 records of the Jeffrey name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 323
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 311
  • Other U.S. records 666
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Joseph Jeffrey

    Born 1911 in United Kingdom. Enlisted 1943 at New York City; manager from Bronx County, New York. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1979, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Alford Jeffrey

    Born 1930; from Williamson County, Illinois. U.S. Army, fire direction and liaison operator; killed in action 1951 in South Korea.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Jeffrey

    Arrived at New York in 1868 aboard the Colorado from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 29; matron. From Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,300 records for Jeffrey in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · 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); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia2,167 records

2,167 records of the Jeffrey name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,034
  • Tasmanian Names Index 539
  • Other Australian records 594
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Janet Jeffrey

    Died 1900 in Bathurst Street, Hobart, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1900.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Robert Alexander Jeffrey

    Married 1897 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 69. Died 1902 in Tasmania, aged 75.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. 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 Sarah Jeffrey

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Roslin Castle, arriving 1830; certificate of freedom 1839.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 2,167 records for Jeffrey in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (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: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada243 records

243 records of the Jeffrey name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 159
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 21
  • Other Canadian records 63
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Leonard Jeffrey

    Killed in 1946 at the Dominion No. 16 mine, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Wm Jeffrey

    Came to Ontario in 1881 aboard the Corean, landing at Quebec, bound for Ayr, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Selina Jeffrey

    Buried in 1997 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 89.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 243 records for Jeffrey in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom108 records

108 records of the Jeffrey name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 52
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 43
  • Other British records 13
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Peter Jeffrey

    Buried in 1924 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 66.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Elizabeth Jeffrey

    Will proved in 1911; of Dwygyfylchi, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Peter Jeffrey

    Died 1914. Named in the roll of honour (1926).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 108 records for Jeffrey in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand19 records

19 records of the Jeffrey name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 15
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 3
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Clifford William Jeffrey

    Died 1988, aged 78; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Suzanne Francis Jeffrey

    Died 1997, aged 46; buried at Omahu Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

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

    Died 1938, aged 62; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 19 records for Jeffrey in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands2 records

2 records of the Jeffrey name in the Netherlands Dutch population registers
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Dina Helena Jeffrey

    In the population register of Vlissingen.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Dina Elena Jeffrey

    In the population register of Vlissingen.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France1 record

1 record of the Jeffrey name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Albert Andre Jeffrey

    Born 1902 in Cherbourg-Octeville; died 1976 in Cherbourg (Manche).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Jeffrey name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Henry Jeffrey

    From Memel. Reported wounded in the Prussian casualty list of 9 April 1915 (Fusilier Regiment No. 33).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Jeffrey.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Jeffrey is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Jeffrey volume
Scroll to Top