Jolly Surname

8,517th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 66,879 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
United States
Highest density in:
Turks and Caicos Islands

Jolly Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the jolly,' merry, gay, festive; v. Jolliff. Prof. Skeat connects it with Yule; Icel. jol. The following entries referring to the same individual are interesting: Johannes Yoly, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Read More About This Surname

Jolly Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States21,9221:16,5342,093
France12,6201:5,263431
England6,4891:8,5871,254
India6,3361:121,0657,838
Australia4,3811:6,162897
Bangladesh4,1451:38,4462,291
Nigeria2,6881:65,9014,827
Canada1,5981:23,0573,134
Saudi Arabia8351:36,9535,288
Scotland7281:7,3541,117
New Zealand7011:6,4601,081
Egypt3051:301,42919,796
Uganda2961:131,88912,147
Jamaica2871:10,0001,074
Belgium2661:43,2207,064
Haiti2231:47,9102,920
Malaysia2111:139,7838,872
South Africa2051:264,28126,485
Germany1771:454,83340,228
Malawi1571:109,03912,664
Bahrain1321:10,2171,962
Wales1291:23,9892,518
Thailand1261:560,62295,829
Turks and Caicos Islands1241:27763
Papua New Guinea1231:66,2908,647
Oman1121:32,9282,300
Argentina981:436,15732,981
Kuwait871:43,6865,304
Bahamas821:4,777487
Netherlands601:281,45334,544
China581:23,574,5101,290
Panama571:68,6362,986
Ireland521:90,5575,084
Ethiopia491:1,990,7408,024
Mexico481:2,585,96321,318
New Caledonia471:5,8771,249
Dominican Republic461:226,8038,136
Dominica431:1,765296
Switzerland421:195,54617,263
Portugal381:274,16410,086
Russia361:4,003,418194,829
Rwanda361:315,6941,449
Spain361:1,298,66842,856
Italy341:1,798,72686,050
Northern Ireland331:55,9104,502
Ivory Coast321:720,97619,991
Isle of Man291:2,959610
Philippines291:3,490,973149,374
Grenada271:4,020548
Trinidad and Tobago251:54,5594,614
Hong Kong221:333,4313,127
DR Congo211:3,518,075145,665
Chile191:927,18319,125
French Polynesia181:15,6003,086
Brazil171:12,592,608246,358
Sweden171:579,22142,433
Austria161:532,21549,801
Indonesia161:8,265,575327,276
Peru161:1,986,50825,077
United Arab Emirates161:572,64223,583
Costa Rica151:318,6713,310
Norway151:342,81932,589
Singapore131:423,66918,211
Denmark121:470,39330,183
United States Virgin Islands111:10,0341,440
Zambia111:1,440,90231,383
Kenya91:5,131,10045,516
Qatar91:262,00030,726
Belarus81:1,187,63277,603
Tanzania81:6,617,70268,742
Cuba71:1,646,1028,141
Vietnam71:13,235,1512,948
Japan61:21,307,38248,838
Poland61:6,334,792156,558
Cambodia51:3,097,4298,690
Finland51:1,099,34045,512
Maldives51:80,8343,218
Pakistan51:35,728,777102,388
Central African Republic41:1,128,848387
Gabon41:472,2983,618
Greece41:2,769,948101,568
Guernsey41:16,1101,225
Laos41:1,647,081888
Morocco41:8,619,02573,251
Paraguay41:1,809,18612,346
Sudan41:9,377,5498,207
Cameroon31:6,923,023143,724
Czechia31:3,544,490144,714
Jersey31:33,0674,675
Macau31:200,543803
Monaco31:12,3552,088
Romania31:6,692,62378,504
South Korea31:17,080,0852,793
Burkina Faso21:9,176,05023,741
Iran21:38,391,262236,033
Kazakhstan21:8,841,248174,813
Nepal21:14,240,47817,812
Turkey21:38,910,711171,901
Algeria11:38,631,551130,422
Andorra11:83,8382,381
Antigua and Barbuda11:99,1712,137
Azerbaijan11:9,649,12247,873
Barbados11:287,4482,772
Belize11:355,4743,977
Bhutan11:616,0391,715
British Virgin Islands11:31,5941,029
Brunei11:418,7313,893
Colombia11:47,774,07244,230
Congo11:4,989,09634,171
Croatia11:4,228,60499,289
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Equatorial Guinea11:1,135,674984
Estonia11:1,321,80440,178
Fiji11:894,3914,568
Georgia11:3,745,54547,852
Ghana11:27,020,69223,742
Gibraltar11:33,9541,660
Guinea11:11,833,8173,268
Hungary11:9,816,27773,288
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
Liberia11:4,408,53547,110
Luxembourg11:580,54215,155
Mauritania11:4,094,86338,869
Mauritius11:1,293,41716,552
Moldova11:3,561,36878,271
Mongolia11:2,825,28917,010
Namibia11:2,409,40119,676
Senegal11:14,579,34211,705
Serbia11:7,144,94838,459
Sierra Leone11:7,089,6311,533
Slovenia11:2,487,67531,128
Sri Lanka11:20,808,56018,521
Taiwan11:23,444,74693,622
Tajikistan11:8,386,69212,859
Tuvalu11:11,188103
Ukraine11:45,522,696503,646
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
Uzbekistan11:30,929,14267,786
Zimbabwe11:15,438,240133,260
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland1341:33,0593,220
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England3,4931:6,9781,080
Scotland7201:5,199791
Wales401:39,2102,093
Guernsey141:2,333390
Jersey11:51,8823,898
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States3,3991:14,7751,888

Jolly (97,767) may also be a first name.

Jolly Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the jolly,' merry, gay, festive; v. Jolliff. Prof. Skeat connects it with Yule; Icel. jol. The following entries referring to the same individual are interesting: Johannes Yoly, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Agnes, serviens Joly Johan, 1379: ibid.

Hence the double forms Little and Little-john in our directories. In the latter case the font-name becomes permanently incorporated with the nickname. Jolly-john might as easily have been perpetuated. Note, however, Y and 'J' in the instance given; v. Joy for similar instance.

William Golye, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Henricus Joly, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Ricardus Jolyman, 1379: ibid.

Willelmus Jolyman, 1379: ibid.

Johannes Jolyman, 1379: ibid.

With these instances, compare Merriman and Merry.

1715. Buried — Theodorius Joley, servant to Mr. Philips, the barber: St. Michael, Cornhill.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

(Anglo-French-Scand.) Merry, Gay [Middle English joly, joli, Old French jolif (Mod.French joli, pretty); fromO.N. jól, a Christmas festival: cp. Englishyule] The briddis, how they syngen clere, The mavys and the nyghtyngale, And other joly briddis smale.—Chaucer, Rom. of the Rose, 618-20.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

(English) One who was agreeable or pleasant.

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

This name has been derived from Julius. But see Yellow.

Ludus Patronymicus (1868) by Richard Stephen Charnock

From the Old Norse, Jölfr; from the German, Jolies, Jolly; from the Dutch, Jolle; from the Flemish, from the French, Joly; a personal name.$

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

Jolly was the name of a Brisingham gentleman in 1580 (B. L.).

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain (1890) by Henry Brougham Guppy

Jolly was the name of a Southwold merchant 200 years ago.

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain (1890) by Henry Brougham Guppy

Jolly Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Jolly Come From? nationality or country of origin

The last name Jolly (Arabic: جوللي, Hindi: जौली, Marathi: जॉली, Oriya: ଜଲି) occurs in The United States more than any other country/territory. It can also be found in the variant forms:. Click here to see other possible spellings of this surname.

How Common Is The Last Name Jolly? popularity and diffusion

The last name Jolly is the 8,517th most common last name on a global scale. It is borne by around 1 in 108,966 people. The surname occurs mostly in The Americas, where 35 percent of Jolly are found; 33 percent are found in North America and 32 percent are found in Anglo-North America. Jolly is also the 10,408th most frequently used first name worldwide It is held by 97,767 people.

The last name Jolly is most widespread in The United States, where it is held by 21,922 people, or 1 in 16,534. In The United States Jolly is primarily concentrated in: Texas, where 10 percent reside, North Carolina, where 8 percent reside and California, where 6 percent reside. Outside of The United States it is found in 138 countries. It is also found in France, where 19 percent reside and England, where 10 percent reside.

Jolly Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The prevalency of Jolly has changed through the years. In The United States the share of the population with the surname rose 645 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it rose 186 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it rose 101 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it rose 323 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Ireland it declined 61 percent between 1901 and 2014.

Jolly Last Name Statistics demography

The religious devotion of those bearing the surname is chiefly Anglican (63%) in Ireland and Christian (99%) in Nigeria.

In The United States those holding the Jolly last name are 15.25% more likely to be registered Republicans than The US average, with 62.02% registered with the party.

The amount Jolly earn in different countries varies greatly. In Norway they earn 27.93% less than the national average, earning 249,403 kr per year; in Peru they earn 82.85% more than the national average, earning S/. 35,446 per year; in South Africa they earn 50.67% more than the national average, earning R 358,044 per year; in United States they earn 3.64% less than the national average, earning $41,580 USD per year and in Canada they earn 3.12% more than the national average, earning $51,232 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Jolley9119,827/
Jollay91252/
Ajolly9117/
Joully9110/
Ejolly9110/
Joilly915/
Joolly911/
Jjolly911/
Jolliy911/
Jollly911/
Joly8984,250/
Jolleys83196/
Joullay8336/
Joilley832/
Jolliey831/
Joslley831/
O'Jolly831/
Jolay803,801/
Jolla801,820/
Jally801,808/
Joliy801,476/
Jully801,389/
Jolli80658/
Jolle80286/
Jouly80225/
Joley80108/
Jholy8073/
Joloy8072/
Yolly8038/
Jolyt8037/
Joyly8029/
Jooly8019/
Jolya804/
Jolyo804/
Ajoly802/
Joluy802/
Joily801/
Jolyy801/
Ejoly801/
Jollé801/
Jjoly801/
Iolly800/
O'Jolley771/
Jollet731,230/
Joller731,146/
Jollie73822/
Joelle73677/
Jolles73631/
Joilay73479/
Jalley73363/
Hjouly73204/
Jollit73197/
Jhally73196/
Ejolle73187/
Yolley73159/
Jolaya73142/
Jallay73102/
Juilly7380/
Joëlle7374/
Jollaj7369/
Jollis7366/
Joulla7343/
Josley7341/
Joulay7340/
Joille7333/
Jouley7329/
Jholiy7328/
Joolay7324/
Joleys7320/
Joulli7320/
Joliey7318/
Jollai7315/
Jyolle739/
Jootly739/
Julley738/
Joelli738/
Jollee738/
Jaully738/
Ejolla737/
Jooley736/
Jholay736/
Joulya736/
Ojolla735/
Joulle735/
Jallya734/
Jollez734/
Jholli734/
Ajolla734/
Jollia734/
Jollio734/
Jalloy734/
Ijolla733/
Juolay732/
Jullay732/
Jolleh732/
Jollès732/
Joyloy732/
Jullya731/
Jalliy731/
Jolled731/
Jolyth731/
Joolya731/
Iolley731/
Ejouly731/
Geolly731/
Joiley731/
Jollea731/
Jollei731/
Jollhe731/
Jolloa731/
Jollés731/
Jouliy731/
Jiolle731/
Jullyo731/
Yolloy731/
Hajoly731/
Eholly731/
Ajolli731/
Jially731/
Josliy731/
Joslyy730/
Juoley730/
July6711,600/
Joli675,827/
Jola673,768/
Jole671,360/
Jaly67856/
Yoly67317/
Joullie67225/
Jollois67221/
Hajolli6767/
Jahally6750/
Jollett6748/
Juollai6746/
Ajholiy6745/
Jüly6745/
Youlley6742/
Jhalley6731/
Joullia6731/
Joselli6728/
Jolé6728/
Jolliss6726/
Joillet6719/
Ejjolla6714/
Joselle6710/
Jootley678/
Ioly677/
Juillay676/
Julliay675/
Jhulley673/
Jallaya671/
Jatelly671/
Jijolla671/
Jolj671/
Joslytt671/
Aijolla671/
Ujjally671/
Eoly671/
Joliaya671/
Iholley671/
Júly671/
Jollhio671/
Jolá671/
Joellea671/
Ajiolla671/
Joollai671/
Hojolle671/
Jhoelle671/
Jhosley671/
Jollich670/
Jolliph670/
Hjooley670/

Jolly Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Jolly in the Oriya language
ଜଲିjali-
Jolly in the Marathi language
जॉलीjoli87.56
जोलीjoli12
जॉलीयjoliya0.44
Jolly in the Hindi language
जौलीjauli83.06
जोलीjoli13.64
जॉलीjoli3.31
Jolly in the Arabic language
جولليjwlly-

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Jolly Reference & Research

Jolly DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.

Jolly FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Jolly
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis