Save Type Surname (from given name) Usage English Pronounced Pron. JEHF-ər-sən [key·IPA] Expand LinksMeaning & History Means "son of JEFFREY". A famous bearer was American president Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Since this surname was sometimes adopted by freed slaves, it is now more common among the African-American population. DetailsRelated Names VariantsJeffers, Jeffery, JeffriesGiven Name DescendantJefferson(English) Categories American presidential surnames, Hamilton characters, Vice presidents Entry updated May 29, 2020 ·