Jeffersson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

This Jeffersson surname comes from the Norman personal names Geoffrey and Godfrey. These names appear in Middle English as Geffrey and in Old French as Jefroi or Jeufroi. Galfridus and Gaufridus are early forms of the name; these indicate a Germanic first element derived from either "gala," which means "to sing," or "gawi," which means "region" or "territory." 1

The surname Jeffersson also features the patronymic suffix "-son," which superseded all other such suffixes in popularity by the 14th century and was most common in the north of Britain.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."

Early Origins of the Jeffersson family

The surname Jeffersson was first found in Staffordshire where Robert Geffreysone was recorded in the Assize Rolls for 1344. Years later, the family emerged in Yorkshire where Alice Geffrason was listed in 1488 and later John Jeffrason was listed as a Freeman of York in 1528. 2

The Jeffersons of Virginia which included US President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) probably hailed from England.

Early History of the Jeffersson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Jeffersson research. Another 165 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1344, 1488, 1528, 1609, 1640, 1641, 1648, 1658, 1691, 1720, 1743, 1797 and 1826 are included under the topic Early Jeffersson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Jeffersson Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Jeffersson family name include Jeffers, Jefferson, Jeffson, Jephson and others.

Early Notables of the Jeffersson family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Jephson (1609-1658), a Member of Parliament for Stockbridge (1640-1648), served in the Parliamentary army and was Cromwell's envoy to Sweden. He was "the eldest son of Sir John Jephson of Froyle, Hampshire, and Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and coheiress of Sir Thomas Norreys of Mallow, co. Cork. He was one of the representatives of Stockbridge, Hampshire, in the Long parliament, and...
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Jeffersson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jeffersson family to Ireland

Some of the Jeffersson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Jeffersson family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Jeffersson family to immigrate North America: John Jefferson, who came to Virginia in 1620; Mary Jefferson, who settled in Virginia in 1653; Edmund Jefferson, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1682; Robert Jefferson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)