Jones Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Jones is a Welsh surname derived from 'John', meaning 'son of John'. It evolved from the historical form 'John' to the modern surname 'Jones'. The name reflects traits of grace and familial connection. There is no biblical background associated with the surname. It gained popularity in the 16th century and remains common today.
The name Jones is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Jones has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Jones' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 920th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1215th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1703rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3038th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4381st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3148th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1121st out of 23106 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 10335th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Jones' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Jones"
Pronunciation
/dʒoʊnz/
Origin
Welsh
Etymology
Jones is a patronymic surname derived from 'John', which means 'God is gracious'. The 's' at the end signifies 'son of'.
Meaning
son of John
Language Evolution
John, Jon, Jones
Historical Usage
The surname gained popularity in Wales and England during the 16th century, particularly as the use of surnames became more common.
Variants & Derivatives
Johns, Jonas, Jonny
Modern Popularity & Image
Jones is widely recognized and is one of the most common surnames in English-speaking countries. It is often associated with a sense of familiarity and approachability.
Famous People
James Earl Jones, Tom Jones, Bessie Jones
Explore More Jones Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Jones"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Jones"
"Jones" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 920th of 7545 | 888 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1215th of 6773 | 584 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1703rd of 7552 | 403 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3038th of 10718 | 178 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4381st of 16616 | 176 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3148th of 24088 | 513 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1121st of 23106 | 2,136 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 10335th of 30306 | 112 |
Regional Popularity of "Jones" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
26.92% 637th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
42.67% 1004th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
55.49% 1583rd/2853 |
52.76% 1464th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
42.44% 3104th/7313 |
49.12% 3666th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
31.12% 1240th/3984 |
43.48% 1951st/4487 |
16.33% 1114th/6822 |
14.17% 889th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Jones" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Jones"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Jones" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.