Origins of the Jackson surname

What does the name Jackson mean?

The origin of the Jackson surname is most often thought to be English (some believe it to have arisen in the borders between England and Scotland), though it is common across the British Isles and English-speaking world. Jackson is the 24th most popular surname in England and Wales. Jackson is a patronymic name, referring to the 'son of Jack/John'.

Alternative variations of the name Jackson

Jackson, Jacksone, Jackeson, Jacson, Jacksun

Start free trial
“
I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.
SS
Stuart
Trustpilot logoTrustpilot 5 stars
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Jacksons.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Jackson family's history

OrkneyShetlandHighlandsWestern IslesGrampianTaysideCentralStrathclydeFifeLothianBordersDumfriesNorth East 6078North West 5268Isle of Man 107Yorkshire 16427East Midlands 3058West Midlands 4750East 2581London 25467South East 4421South West 1005South Wales 381Mid Wales 78West Wales 16North Wales 412Republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland

In 1921, most Jacksons lived in london

Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

140,000 Jackson Travel & migration records
860,000 Jacksons found in all Census records

Interesting facts about Jackson

How common is your surname?

19th most common surname in the UK

We have for the Jackson surname. The oldest one dates back to 1264.

Who were Jacksons most likely to marry?

Our tell us which families married Jacksons.

What are the most common Jackson first names?

John

William

Mary

Elizabeth

Our tell us the names of Jackson family members
Man with milk churns and census card collage
Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

Common jobs for Jacksons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common female occupations for Jacksons in 1921

Dressmaker

3,431

Cotton Weaver

3,233

Domestic Servant

1,945

General Servant Domestic

1,796

House Servant

1,578

Common male occupations for Jacksons in 1921

Coal Miner

3,763

Farmer

3,377

General Labourer

3,033

Agricultural Labourer

2,893

Farm Labourer

1,927

We found over 690,000 family trees with the Jackson surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Jacksons.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Learn more about the lives of Jackson family members

How rare is your surname?

Have you ever wondered if your family na...

The rise and fall of these disappearing British surnames

Could your surname be on the brink of di...

English surnames explained: The seven types of last names you should know

Ever wondered where our last names come...

How to find the maiden names of women in your family tree

Try these simple tricks to pinpoint your...

4 simple steps to starting your family history journey

Starting your family history journey is...

Share your discoveries

Share to WhatsApp

Share to Facebook

Look for a different surname

Paper tear line

Find out more about your family in our records

    or try an advanced search