Surname Jeffcott - Meaning and Origin

Jeffcott: What does the surname Jeffcott mean?

The last name Jeffcott is said to have stemmed from the given name Geoffrey. It is a locational surname, derived from places within the United Kingdom such as Jeffcott Hill in Shropshire, Jawcott in Wiltshire, or Jeffcott Barton in Devon. The surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was particularly common in both the north and south of England. The name is predominantly English in nature, although some families may have roots in other countries such as France.

The meaning of Jeffcott derives from two-word elements of geoff and cot. Geoff is a Middle English term meaning peace and cot is a term which originates from the Olde English word cote meaning cottage, shelter, or home. Combining the two words, Jeffcott can be interpreted as meaning someone who lives in a peaceful cottage.

Due to the locational origins of the name, you may find that many people who share this surname are in fact related. Those who have the surname may have a tie to the same place or have come from the same family at some point in time.

Overall, the last name Jeffcott is likely to signify someone who comes from a peaceful cottage and is thought to stem from Geoffrey, a Middle English term meaning peace. The surname is English in origin, but may have roots in other countries such as France. It is thought that those who share this surname are likely to be related due to its locational origins.

Jeffcott: Where does the name Jeffcott come from?

The last name Jeffcott is most often associated with British and Irish ancestry, particularly from England and Wales, though there are some cases of the surname also found elsewhere. It is believed to be derived from two distinct sources, a patronymic form of the given name Geoffrey, with Jeff coming from the diminutive of that name, plus cot meaning a cottage or small dwelling.

The Jeffcott name is not particularly widespread, but is found in small pockets throughout England and Wales. The most common concentrations of the surname can be found in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Surrey, particularly in the towns of Manchester, Bradford, and Sheffield.

Elsewhere in the world, there are also pockets of the Jeffcott name. Ireland, Scotland, the United States and Canada all have their fair share of bearers. In the United States, the Jeffcott surname can be found in states such as Florida, Georgia, and Virginia. In Canada, it appears to be mostly clustered around the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Overall, the Jeffcott name is not particularly widespread, but can be found in small pockets throughout England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.

Variations of the surname Jeffcott

Jeffcott is a surname that may have originated in the UK, although its roots are unknown. It is also sometimes spelled Jeffcote, Jeffcoat, and Jeffcutt. Variants can include Jeffcatt, Jeffcott, and Jeffcott.

Other variants and spellings that may share the same origin include Geoffcott, Jeffcote, Geffcott, Jeffcutt, and Jeffcatt. In some occasions, there may be an added letter L in the spelling, such as Jeffcolt (Jefcolte, Jefcolt, Jeffcolt, and Geffcolt).

The surname Jeffcott is most commonly recorded in Northern England, where it is especially common in Lancashire and Yorkshire. The few occurrences of the surname outside of Britain have been in the United States since they began emigrating in the late 1800s.

The surname has various other spellings and variants including Jeffcott, Jeoffrey, Geffcote, Jeoffcot, Jeffcott, Gefcote, and Jeffcot. During the early days of colonial America, the surname Jeffcott often varied and took on many different spellings due to different regional dialects.

The evolution of spellings over time can lead to confusion about a person's heritage, as few of the more recent spellings can be distinguished from the earlier spellings. For example, decades ago 'Jeffcutt' could have been an alternate spelling of 'Jeffcott', but today it is a distinct surname.

In any case, research of old records can help determine which spelling of the surname was in use at what time and in what region.

Famous people with the name Jeffcott

• Rupert Jeffcott: A British lawyer, who was educated at the University of Liverpool and was made a silk in 2017.
• Hollie Jeffcott: An artist and designer, who studied at the Royal College of Arts and is known for her bold abstract artworks.
• Jack Jeffcott: A British actor, who started his career as a child actor on the drama show Byker Grove and has since starred in a variety of television shows and films.
• Joe Jeffcott: An actor, who is known for his roles in Chalk and Unlucky Seven.
• Kevin Jeffcott: A former professional footballer, currently the manager of Walsall Football Club.
• Sandon Jeffcott: A retired lacrosse player, who played for the Boston Blazers and Rochester Knighthawks between 1993 and 2000.
• Stuart Jeffcott: An British actor, who has appeared in television shows like Doctors and Scrubs.
• Ted Jeffcott: A former professional rugby league player, who played for Halifax, Wakefield Trinity and St. Helens.
• Tom Jeffcott: A British athlete, who competed in the 200-meter and 400-meter events at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
• Tony Jeffcott: An English artist, who creates large landscape oil paintings of the English countryside.

Other surnames

Jeffcoat