Explore the Family Name Jernigan
The meaning of Jernigan
English (Suffolk): of uncertain origin. Reaney believes it to be of Breton origin, probably identical with the Old Breton personal name Iarnuuocon ‘iron famous’, taken to East Anglia by Bretons at the time of the Norman Conquest. Compare Journigan. History: Thomas Jernigan was granted land at Somerton, VA, in 1668. Many of his descendants were sea captains. His son, also called Thomas, settled on Martha’s Vineyard, MA, in 1712.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Jernigan in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Jernigan has seen a slight decrease in rank over a decade, moving from 2182 in 2000 to 2294 in 2010, a change of -5.13%. However, contrary to its decreased rank, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 3.86%, from 15,298 in 2000 to 15,889 in 2010. The proportion per 100k people also decreased slightly, from 5.67 in 2000 to 5.39 in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #2,182 | #2,294 | -5.13% |
| Count | 15,298 | 15,889 | 3.86% |
| Proportion per 100k | 5.67 | 5.39 | -4.94% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Jernigan
In relation to ethnicity and based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the largest group associated with the surname Jernigan remains those of White ethnicity, although there was a slight decrease from 78.45% in 2000 to 76.29% in 2010. On the other hand, there were notable increases in the representation of other ethnic identities. Individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 48.48%, those reporting two or more races increased by 40.91%, and Hispanic representations rose by 39.84%. The Black community also saw an increase of 4.35%. Lastly, the percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Natives with the surname Jernigan increased from 0.69% in 2000 to 0.84% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 78.45% | 76.29% | -2.75% |
| Black | 17.94% | 18.72% | 4.35% |
| Two or More Races | 1.32% | 1.86% | 40.91% |
| Hispanic | 1.28% | 1.79% | 39.84% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.69% | 0.84% | 21.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.33% | 0.49% | 48.48% |
Jernigan 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 Jernigan is British & Irish, which comprises 61.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (19.9%) and Eastern European (2.9%). Additional ancestries include Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, Scandinavian, Italian, and Indigenous American.
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 | 61.1% |
| French & German | 19.9% |
| Eastern European | 2.9% |
| Other | 16.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Jernigan
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 Jernigan have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 85.70% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 85.70% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 85.30% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 85.30% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 85.30% |
What Jernigan 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 Jernigan is R-CTS4188, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS4188 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-L51 and I-CTS1977, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Pelletier, Beebe, Minter, Burford, Pelkey, Pitre, Peltier, Maciel, Swope, Durand.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Jernigan surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your 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 Jernigan 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.
"Jernigan" Surname 42.5%
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.
"Jernigan" Surname 26.0%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Jernigan" Surname 25.4%
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.
"Jernigan" Surname 17.1%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Jernigan?
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 Jernigan are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition