Surname Jeters - Meaning and Origin

Jeters: What does the surname Jeters mean?

The last name Jeters is of German and Dutch origin. It is commonly spelled with a variation of the spelling - Jeter and Jetter, and refers to a type of person that lived near the Jete River in Germany. The Jete River was a key river in the region, providing significant transportation routes and spawning thriving trade towns. As such, the Jeters surname is thought to come from the people who lived and worked near this river.

The Jeters name is thought to have developed from the phrase “Jeter meister”, meaning “Master of the Jetes”. Those who held this distinction likely had a successful trade career, becoming masters of the river’s merchant flow.

Today, Jeters are most commonly found in the United States, having migrated from Europe centuries ago. While in the United States, many Jeters have become successful entrepreneurs, engineers, and educators.

Overall, the Jeters name carries a legacy of successful commerce origins and makes up a small but vital part of the American cultural landscape.

Jeters: Where does the name Jeters come from?

The last name Jeters is a common surname throughout the United States. According to the U.S. Census data, Jeters is currently the 768th most common surname in the United States with an estimated 52,619 people having this surname. However, its’ popularity is most heavily concentrated in Southern states such as South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. In South Carolina alone, research from the U.S. Geological Survey indicates Jeters is the 32nd most popular surname in the state with 6,070 people sharing it.

Outside of the United States, Jeters is also quite common. Data from the Caribbean indicates that it is the 39th most common surname in that region, while census data from England & Wales also finds it as a relatively widespread surname. Specifically, the English Census as of 2011 had it as the 917th most popular surname in the country.

The name Jeters is a patronymic surname derived from the given name “Jeter,” a mediæval English given name that was most likely derived from the Germanic “Gauther.” The current prevalence of the surname Jeters could be attributed to the emigration of its’ earliest bearers to the United States, particularly to the Southern states, during the colonial period.

Variations of the surname Jeters

The surname Jeters has a few variations in spelling, as well as a few alternate surnames that share the same origin. These include:

Jeter: This is the most common American spelling of the surname. The name is popular in West Virginia, as well as in the south and southwestern regions of the United States.

Jeterre: This is the French version of Jeter and is mostly found in parts of northern France.

Jeters: This is a common alternate spelling to the original Jeter.

Juter: This is the Netherlands spelling of the surname and is derived from the Dutch region of the same name.

Jetters: This is a variation on the original Jeter.

Jetton: This is an alternate surname derived from Jeter. The name is popular in England and in parts of the United States.

Jettons: This is another alternate spelling of Jetton.

Jeteret: This is the French spelling of the surname, again derived from parts of northern France.

Jetrais: This is the French spelling of the surname Jetere and is found in the south of the country.

Jetreux: This is another alternate French spelling of the original Jeter.

Jetello: This is the Italian version of the surname, found in regions of the country formerly known as the Kingdom of Naples.

Jetel: This is the Romanian spelling of the surname, common in parts of Transylvania.

Jethro: This is the biblical name, derived from the ancestor of the Levites. It is also sometimes used as an alternative surname for Jeter.

Famous people with the name Jeters

• Derek Jeter: Retired Major League Baseball shortstop for the New York Yankees from 1995 to 2014 and five-time World Series champion.
• Sharlee Jeter: Former professional softball player and youth baseball advocate, sister of Derek Jeter.
• Tony Jeter: Baseball referee and umpire from Southwest Missouri, officiated over 400 major league baseball games in a 10 year period.
• D'Angelo Jeter: Minor league pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, drafted in 2016 from Eastern Kentucky University.
• JaVale Jeter: Retired minor league infielder, selected in the third round by the San Diego Padres in 2006.
• Christopher Jeter: Discovered through the 18U National team baseball showcase in 2014 and played most of his college career with Central Michigan.
• Torry Jeter: Linebacker for the University of North Carolina, transferred from Georgia Southern after playing in all 11 games as a true freshman.
• Kendall Jeter: Outfielder drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2016 out of New Mexico Junior College.
• Dalton Jeter: Minor league catcher then drafted by the St Louis Cardinals organization in 2013 from Sullivan Central High School in Blountville, TN.
• Stenson Jeter: Second baseman in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, drafted 2019 from Liberty University.

Other surnames

Jeter