# Jeff (surname)

Source: https://namelineage.com/surname/jeff/  
Publisher: Name Lineage. Counts from the US Census Bureau; origin and etymology from Wiktionary; bearers from Wikidata. Data updated 2026-11-11.

A surname.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Origin | not recorded |
| Type | not recorded |
| People in the US (2010 Census) | 988 |
| US rank (2010) | 25,115 of 162,253 |
| How often | about 1 in every 312,495 people |
| Change since 2000 | -0.7% (995 in 2000) |
| Pronunciation | /d͡ʒɛf/, 1 syllable |
| Variant spellings | none recorded |

## Etymology

From Jeffrey, a variant of Geoffrey, from Middle English Geffrey, from an Old French aristocratic name, Geoffroi [dʒɔfreʲ] (> West Middle French Geoffrey, East Middle French Geoffroy), itself from Proto-French forms (latinized in -us) Jotfredus, Jozsfredus, Josfredus (10th century) and Jof[f]redus, Jofridus, Jaufredus, Geffredus (11th century), and ultimately of Proto-Germanic origin. The second element is *friþuz (“peace, sanctuary”). The first element may be *gautaz (“a Geat, a Goth”) [making the Proto-Germanic term *Gautafriþu], as opposed to *gōdaz (“good”) or *gudą (“god”) in Godfrey; this would also make it related to Jocelyn. The name was introduced to England by the Normans in the 11th century.

## Who carries it

Share of people named Jeff in the 2010 US Census by the Census's own race and ethnicity groups. The Census suppresses a share when the count behind it is small.

| Group | Share |
|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 44% |
| Black (not Hispanic) | 34% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.2% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 12% |
| Two or more races | 1.4% |

## Similar surnames

Jobe, Jaffe, Job.

## How to read these numbers

A Census count is people alive and counted in 2010, not births, and names occurring fewer than 100 times are not published at all. Ethnicity shares are the Census's own categories.