Explore the Family Name Jeff
The meaning of Jeff
1. English (West Midlands and northern England): from the personal name Geff, a pet form of Geoffrey; see Jeffrey. 2. Native American: adoption of the personal name Jeff (which can be of the same English origin as 1 above or a short form of the surname Jefferson used as a personal name) as a surname.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Jeff in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname "Jeff" has seen a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. In 2000, it ranked 23,739 in terms of commonality and by 2010 it had dropped to 25,115, reflecting a change of -5.8%. The actual count of individuals with the surname Jeff also decreased slightly from 995 in 2000 to 988 in 2010, representing a -0.7% change. Similarly, the proportion per 100,000 people also saw a decline from 0.37 in 2000 to 0.33 in 2010, marking a drop of -10.81%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,739 | #25,115 | -5.8% |
| Count | 995 | 988 | -0.7% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.37 | 0.33 | -10.81% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Jeff
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname "Jeff", the data from the Decennial U.S. Census indicates some notable changes between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, there were no recorded instances of this surname among individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander or belonging to two or more races, but by 2010 these figures had increased to 0.61% and 1.42% respectively. The percentage of individuals with this surname who identify as White decreased slightly from 44.92% to 43.52%, while those identifying as Hispanic saw a significant increase from 4.62% to 8.20%. The proportion of Black individuals with the surname "Jeff" rose marginally from 32.96% to 34.01%. However, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a decrease from 15.18% to 12.25%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 44.92% | 43.52% | -3.12% |
| Black | 32.96% | 34.01% | 3.19% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 15.18% | 12.25% | -19.3% |
| Hispanic | 4.62% | 8.2% | 77.49% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.42% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0.61% | 0% |