Jefferson Family Crest and Name History

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Jefferson PDF Surname History


The Ancient History Of The Distinguished Surname Jefferson

Jefferson

Contents

Jefferson history with Jefferson Family Crest
Jefferson Motto Translated
Suggested Readings for Jefferson

Surname Notables

About Family Crests

Jefferson Products

Origins Available: English, Welsh

Where did the Welsh Jefferson family come from? What is the Welsh coat of arms/family crest? When did the Jefferson family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

The Jefferson surname is a patronymic name that comes from the personal names Geoffrey and Godfrey. These names appear in Old English as Geffrey and in Old French as Jefroi or Jeufroi. The surname Jefferson makes use of the patronymic suffix -son, which had superseded all other such suffixes in popularity by the 14th century, and was most common in the north of Britain. This suffix was sometimes abbreviated to -s.

Compared to other ancient cultures found in the British Isles, the number of Welsh surnames are relatively few, but there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations. These spelling variations began almost as soon as surname usage became common. In the early Middle Ages, the general population was almost entirely illiterate and literary languages had inconsistent rules regarding spelling. As a result, people could not specify how to spell their own names leaving the specific recording up to the individual scribe or priest. Those recorders would then spell the names as they heard them, causing many different variations. Later, many Welsh names were recorded in English. This transliteration process was extremely imprecise since the Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh used many sounds the English language was not accustomed to. Finally, some variations occurred by the individual's design: a branch loyalty within a family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The Jefferson name over the years has been spelled Jeffers, Jefferson, Jeffson, Jephson and others.

First found in Herefordshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1060 A.D.

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Please remember that this page is only a small extract of our complete history that includes:

Ancient origin of the name (usually pre-1100)
Known spelling variations
Early movement of the family name during the Middle Ages
Noteworthy bearers from the 1500-1600s
First settlers to North America
Notable contemporary bearers of the name
A description and/or full color picture of the Coat of Arms, Crest, and Motto (where available)

The Welsh began to emigrate to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of land, work, and freedom. Those that arrived helped shape the industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. The records regarding immigration and passenger show a number of people bearing the name Jefferson: John Jefferson settled in Virginia in 1620; Mary Jefferson settled in Virginia in 1653; Edmund Jefferson settled in Pennsylvania in 1682; Robert Jefferson settled in Nova Scotia in 1774.

Motto Translated: Salvation from the cross.

For more information on the last name Jefferson, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.

Suggested Readings for the name Jefferson

Collected Papers to Commemorate Fifty Years of the Monticello Association of the Descendants of Thomas Jefferson by George Green Shackelford.

Some noteworthy people of the name Jefferson

President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), 3rd American President
Margo Lillian Jefferson (b. 1947), American theater critic at The New York Times awarded the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism
William Jefferson, 42nd President of the United States
George Jefferson, Engineer
John Jefferson (b. 1956), Professional football player, played with the San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League
Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson (1748-1782), wife of president Jefferson
Arthur Stanley Jefferson (1890-1965), original name of Stan Laurel
Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897-1930), country blues guitarist and vocalist
Joseph Jefferson (1829-1905), stage actor and painter
Lance-Corporal Francis Arthur Jefferson (1921-1982), British soldier awarded the Victoria Cross during WWII

Tell Me More About Family Crests

Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist

We have researched the Jefferson family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline

Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements

In the Jefferson coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate

We encourage you to study the Jefferson genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Jefferson Family Crest Products

Anniversary

Anniversary products for the name Jefferson.

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Apparel with the family crest for the name Jefferson.

Armorial histories

Armorial histories for the name Jefferson.

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Ceramics displaying the Jefferson family crest.

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms for the name Jefferson.

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Downloads displaying the family crest for the name Jefferson.

Family Crest

Family Crest for the name Jefferson.

Family Tree

Family Tree emphasing the family crest for the name Jefferson.

Hand Painted Plaques

Hand Painted Plaques proudly displaying the Jefferson coat of arms.

Keychains

Keychains revealing the Jefferson family crest.

Mouse pads

Mouse pads for the Jefferson family crest.

New Products

New Products with a Jefferson coat of arms.

Packages

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Plaques and Frames

Plaques and Frames featuring the Jefferson family crest.

Surname Histories

Surname Histories for the name Jefferson.

Symbolism

Symbolism for the Jefferson family crest.

Travel Mugs

Travel Mugs with the family crest for the name Jefferson.

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The Jefferson Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Jefferson Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.