Explore the Family Name Jackson
The meaning of Jackson
1. English, Scottish, and northern Irish: patronymic from Jack. In North America, this surname has absorbed other patronymics beginning with J- in various European languages, in particular those derived from equivalents or short forms and other derivatives of the personal name Jacob, e.g. Norwegian Jacobsen or Jakobsen and, in some cases, Slovenian Jakše (from a derivative of the personal name Jakob). This surname is also very common among African Americans (see also 2 below). 2. African American: from the personal name Jackson (or Andrew Jackson), adopted in honor of Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the US; or adoption of the surname in 1 above, in many cases probably for the same reason. History: This extremely common British name was brought over by numerous different bearers in the 17th and 18th centuries. One forebear was the father and namesake of the seventh US president, Andrew Jackson, who migrated to SC from Carrickfergus in the north of Ireland in 1765. The Confederate General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson came from VA, where his great-grandfather John, likewise of Scotch–Irish stock, had settled after emigrating to America in 1748.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Jackson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname "Jackson" has seen a slight shift in its ranking from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it held the 18th spot, but dropped one place to 19th in 2010, marking a decrease of about 5.56%. However, despite the drop in ranking, the actual count of people bearing the surname increased by 6.3% over the same period, from 666,125 in 2000 to 708,099 in 2010. This resulted in a minor decrease in proportion per 100,000 people, falling by roughly 2.79%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18 | #19 | -5.56% |
| Count | 666,125 | 708,099 | 6.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 246.93 | 240.05 | -2.79% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Jackson
The Decennial U.S. Census data also provides insight into the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Jackson." In 2010, most identified as Black (53.04%), a slight increase from 53.02% in 2000. The White demographic saw a small decline, from 41.93% in 2000 to 39.89% in 2010. Those identifying as Hispanic witnessed a significant increase of 63.4%, rising from 1.53% in 2000 to 2.5% in 2010. Meanwhile, individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and two or more races also experienced increases, at 25.81% and 43.12% respectively. Lastly, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a minimal increase of 1.92%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 53.02% | 53.04% | 0.04% |
| White | 41.93% | 39.89% | -4.87% |
| Two or More Races | 2.18% | 3.12% | 43.12% |
| Hispanic | 1.53% | 2.5% | 63.4% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.04% | 1.06% | 1.92% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.31% | 0.39% | 25.81% |
Jackson ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Jackson is British & Irish, which comprises 47.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (18.0%) and Nigerian (8.8%). Additional ancestries include Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Scandinavian, Angolan & Congolese, Eastern European, and Spanish & Portuguese.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 47.1% |
| French & German | 18.0% |
| Nigerian | 8.8% |
| Other | 26.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Jackson
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Jackson have recent ancestry locations all within United Kingdom.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 74.00% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 73.80% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 73.40% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 73.40% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 73.00% |
What Jackson haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Jackson is E-P252, which is predominantly found among people with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Haplogroup E-P252 is descended from haplogroup E-M96. Other common haplogroups include R-P311 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Johnson, Brown, Green, Robinson, Harris, White, Taylor, Smith, Williams, Hill.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Jackson surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins E-M96
Your paternal lineage may be linked to Ramesses III
Pharaoh Ramesses III defended Egypt in three consecutive wars during his approximately 30-year reign, but provoked dissent within his administration. Catalyzed by mounting internal strife, one of Ramesses's lesser wives, Tiye, hatched a plot to have her son, Pentawer, usurp the throne by having Ramesses III murdered along with his appointed heir. A papyrus record of the resulting trial explains that the plot failed and that all involved were tried and convicted.However, a modern CT scan of Ramesses III's mummy revealed a deep slit in his throat, reopening a case long thought closed. The embalmers went to great lengths to cover up other wounds, including fashioning a fake toe out of resin where Ramesses's real one had been hacked off, likely during a fatal attack. For thousands of years, Ramesses's burial adornments concealed the wounds that mark one of the most famous royal dramas in history. Ramesses III's paternal lineage belongs to haplogroup E-V38.
Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Jackson have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Jackson" Surname 38.8%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Jackson" Surname 28.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Jackson" Surname 25.7%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Cat Allergy
An allergic reaction to cats, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and difficulty breathing.
"Jackson" Surname 36.7%
23andMe Users 36.7%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Jackson?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Jackson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition