Jones Cemetery Records
Search burial records, grave locations, and genealogy data for the Jones family name across all 50 states.
🏺 Origin of the Jones Surname
Jones is a Welsh and English patronymic surname meaning "son of John" — just as Johnson does in English — but derived through the Welsh patronymic tradition. In Wales, where the surname developed, John became Jan or Ioan in Welsh, giving rise to Jansen, Jones, and similar forms. Wales has the highest proportion of Jones families of any country in the world.
🇺🇸 Jones Families in American History
Jones families came to America primarily from Wales, England, and Ireland. Welsh Jones families settled heavily in Pennsylvania (the Welsh Tract near Philadelphia was settled in the 1680s), and spread through Appalachia and the Midwest. Indiana Jones is of course fictional, but real Jones families have shaped American history in every era.
Where Jones Families Are Concentrated
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | One of the highest Jones concentrations in the US — strong Welsh Appalachian roots |
| North Carolina | Deep colonial and African American Jones family roots |
| Pennsylvania | Welsh Tract settlers — Jones is disproportionately common here vs. other states |
| Virginia | Colonial English/Welsh Jones families; Davy Jones maritime tradition |
| Texas | Largest absolute numbers; very diverse Jones population |
Famous Americans Named Jones
Father of the American Navy; buried at US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
Labor organizer; buried at Union Miners' Cemetery, Mt. Olive, IL
Houston businessman and federal official; buried in Houston, TX
Cowboy actor; buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, CA
Sample Jones Burial Records
| Name | Birth | Death | Cemetery | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mother Jones | 1837 | 1930 | Union Miners Cemetery | IL |
Search Tips for Jones Family Records
Welsh Jones families often attended Baptist or Methodist churches — search church burial records
Pennsylvania has the best-preserved early Jones burial records due to Welsh Tract settlement
Jones is very common in Wales — Welsh vital records (Births and Deaths Registry from 1837) help confirm ancestors who emigrated
Many Appalachian Jones families have detailed genealogical records compiled by local historical societies
Davy Jones is a mythological figure — actual Jones naval records are in National Archives
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there so many Welsh people named Jones?
Wales historically used a patronymic naming system (son of John = ap John = Pjones = Jones). When England required fixed hereditary surnames in the 1500s, the Welsh adopted Jones in enormous numbers — it is estimated that 1 in 10 Welsh people carry the surname Jones.
Is Jones also common among African Americans?
Yes — like Smith, Johnson, and Williams, Jones is among the most common surnames for both white and Black Americans. Many African Americans adopted Jones after emancipation.
Are there variant spellings of Jones I should search?
Jones is fairly standardized. Early colonial records occasionally show Joanes or Jonas as alternate spellings. The Irish Ó hEoin (John's descendant) sometimes anglicized to Jones.
How do I search for Jones families who came from Wales?
The best approach combines US records (census, death certificates) with Welsh records (parish registers digitized at Ancestry and Findmypast, Wales civil registration from 1837). Welsh county and parish of origin were often recorded in early American immigration records.
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