Jefferson

At a Glance

Meaning

Son of Jeffrey

Origin

English (patronymic surname)

Gender

Boy

Pronunciation

JEF-ur-sunListen

Jefferson is an English patronymic surname that simply means 'son of Jeffrey' — no more, no less. You may run across claims that it means 'son of Jeffrey, peaceful traveler' or 'peaceful pledge,' but neither is an attested meaning of Jeffrey, so that's really a guess piled on top of another guess. Pronounced JEF-ur-sun, it carries a classic, timeless-yet-bold feel.

Meaning & Origin of Jefferson

Meaning: Son of Jeffrey.

Origin: English (patronymic surname).

A common claim: Often glossed as 'son of Jeffrey, peaceful traveler' or 'peaceful pledge,' layering Jeffrey's disputed meaning onto the surname. Actually: 'Peaceful traveler' isn't an attested meaning of Jeffrey/Geoffrey at all, and 'peaceful pledge' is only one contested guess at Jeffrey's disputed root; Jefferson itself is simply 'son of Jeffrey.'

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Jefferson

Popularity of Jefferson

Jefferson hit its peak popularity in 1891 at #253, when only 40 baby boys were given the name; by 2024 it had slipped to #711, yet 374 boys received it that year — more than nine times as many as at its historical peak.

Names Like Jefferson

These names share Jefferson’s style, era or origin.

• Brock
• Cash
• Jett
• Kendrick
• Kingston
• Reed

FAQ

What does the name Jefferson mean?

Son of Jeffrey. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Jefferson?

Jefferson is pronounced JEF-ur-sun (IPA: /ˈdʒɛfərsən/).

Is Jefferson a popular name right now?

Jefferson peaked at #253 in 1891 and is ranked #711 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Jefferson Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Jefferson, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.