Explore the Family Name Jefferson
The meaning of Jefferson
1. English (northern): patronymic from the Middle English personal name Geffrey or Jeffray (see Jeffrey) + -son. In the late medieval period Geffreyson was increasingly pronounced Jeffrason, with shortening of the diphthong to a simple vowel, which was later commonly altered to Gefferson and Jefferson, with metathesis of -r- and this shortened vowel. In North America, this surname became especially common among African Americans (see 2 below). 2. African American: from the personal name Jefferson (or Thomas Jefferson), adopted in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the US; or adoption of the surname in 1 above, in most cases probably for the same reason. History: The third US president, author of the Declaration of Independence, and VA statesman Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) relates in his memoirs a family tradition that he was descended from Welsh stock on his father’s side, while noting the relative infrequency of the name Jefferson in Wales. It is a characteristically northern English name. — A Jefferson was among the burgesses who attended the first representative assembly at Jamestown, VA, in 1619.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Jefferson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Jefferson has seen an interesting trend in its popularity over the years. In 2000, Jefferson ranked 594th in frequency among surnames in the United States. Ten years later, in the 2010 census, it fell slightly to the 615th position, marking a decrease of 3.54%. However, the actual count of people with this surname increased by about 7.43%, from 51,361 in 2000 to 55,179 in 2010. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased slightly from 19.04 to 18.71.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #594 | #615 | -3.54% |
| Count | 51,361 | 55,179 | 7.43% |
| Proportion per 100k | 19.04 | 18.71 | -1.73% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Jefferson
When looking at the ethnic identity associated with the surname Jefferson, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there are noticeable shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Black with the surname Jefferson decreased slightly from 75.24% to 74.24%. There was also a small drop noted in the White category, from 18.72% to 17.45%. Alternatively, people with the Jefferson name who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander saw an increase from 0.25% to 0.40%. Those identifying as Hispanic rose from 1.57% to 2.47%, while those reporting two or more races increased from 2.38% to 3.54%. The American Indian and Alaskan Native category showed a minor increase, from 1.85% to 1.90%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 75.24% | 74.24% | -1.33% |
| White | 18.72% | 17.45% | -6.78% |
| Two or More Races | 2.38% | 3.54% | 48.74% |
| Hispanic | 1.57% | 2.47% | 57.32% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.85% | 1.9% | 2.7% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.25% | 0.4% | 60% |
Jefferson 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 Jefferson is British & Irish, which comprises 35.3% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Nigerian (17.7%) and French & German (12.3%). Additional ancestries include Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Angolan & Congolese, Senegambian & Guinean, Spanish & Portuguese, and Scandinavian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 35.3% |
| Nigerian | 17.7% |
| French & German | 12.3% |
| Other | 34.6% |
Possible origins of the surname Jefferson
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 Jefferson have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 56.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 56.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 56.10% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 55.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 55.60% |
What Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 E-M4254 and E-U290, which are predominantly found among people with Sub-Saharan African and Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Washington, Charles, Jackson, Muhammad, Williams, Banks, Joseph, Pierre, Robinson, Harris.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Jefferson surname are: H1, L3e2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European and Sub-Saharan African 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 Jefferson 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.
"Jefferson" Surname 37.1%
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.
"Jefferson" Surname 31.3%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Jefferson" Surname 18.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Jefferson" Surname 16.1%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Jefferson?
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 Jefferson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition