NameCensus.

UK surname

Amour

A French surname meaning "love" or "lover".

In the 1881 census there were 97 people recorded with the Amour surname, ranking it #20,127 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 200, ranked #19,591, up from #20,127 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Earsdon, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Long Benton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hertsmere, East Staffordshire and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amour is 200 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 106.2%.

1881 census count

97

Ranked #20,127

Modern count

200

2016, ranked #19,591

Peak year

2016

200 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Amour had 97 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,127 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016, ranked #19,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 159 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Amour surname distribution map

The map shows where the Amour surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Amour surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Amour over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 80 #19,558
1861 historical 79 #23,702
1881 historical 97 #20,127
1891 historical 94 #24,820
1901 historical 159 #17,442
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 149 #21,214
1998 modern 164 #20,505
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 169 #20,199
2001 modern 164 #20,279
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 165 #20,401
2004 modern 165 #20,530
2005 modern 167 #20,296
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 173 #20,465
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 186 #20,217
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 196 #19,790
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 197 #19,774
2016 modern 200 #19,591

Geography

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Where Amours are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Earsdon, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon), Long Benton, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and St Andrew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hertsmere, East Staffordshire, Swansea and Northumberland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Earsdon Northumberland
2 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
3 Long Benton Northumberland
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 St Andrew Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hertsmere 012 Hertsmere
2 East Staffordshire 007 East Staffordshire
3 Swansea 021 Swansea
4 Northumberland 031 Northumberland
5 Swansea 014 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Amour

These lists show first names that appear often with the Amour surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Amour

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Amour, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Amour surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Amour household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Amour is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Amour is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Amour falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Amour is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Amour, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Amour

The surname "Amour" originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "amour," which means "love" or "affection." The name may have been given to someone who was known for their affectionate or loving nature, or it could have been a nickname for someone who was particularly charming or attractive.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "Amour" date back to the 12th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the name include Jean Amour, who was mentioned in a document from the city of Rouen in 1195, and Hugues Amour, who was listed in a census record from the village of Ambrières in 1234.

In the 13th century, the name "Amour" appeared in several historical records, such as the "Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Victor de Marseille," which was a manuscript containing charters and other documents related to the Saint-Victor Abbey in Marseille. Additionally, the name was mentioned in the "Rôles de l'Échiquier de Normandie," which were records of the Norman Exchequer, a financial court in the Duchy of Normandy.

One of the earliest notable individuals to bear the surname "Amour" was Jacques Amour, a French nobleman who lived in the 14th century. He was a knight and served as a military commander during the Hundred Years' War between England and France. Another prominent figure with this surname was Jean Amour, a 15th-century French poet and writer who was known for his love poems and romantic works.

In the 16th century, the name "Amour" was found in various records from the city of Paris, including tax rolls and parish registers. One notable bearer of the name during this time was Pierre Amour, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Paris in the late 1500s.

Other individuals with the surname "Amour" throughout history include Marguerite Amour, a 17th-century French artist known for her portraits and still-life paintings, and Louis Amour, an 18th-century French philosopher and writer who was influenced by the Enlightenment movement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Amour families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Amour surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Northumberland leads with 42 Amours recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.79x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 42 30.79x
Durham 17 6.23x
Yorkshire 9 0.99x
Middlesex 7 0.76x
Roxburghshire 4 24.08x
Wiltshire 4 4.93x
Lancashire 2 0.18x
Surrey 2 0.45x
Berkshire 1 1.45x
Fife 1 1.84x
Hampshire 1 0.53x
Midlothian 1 0.81x
Northamptonshire 1 1.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.81x
Sussex 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hetton Le Hole in Durham leads with 11 Amours recorded in 1881 and an index of 317.92x.

Place Total Index
Hetton Le Hole 11 317.92x
Backworth 8 2222.22x
Bothal Demesne 8 1230.77x
Earsdon 8 720.72x
St Pancras London 7 9.49x
Westerton 6 4000.00x
Cramlington 5 277.78x
Holywell 5 714.29x
York St Andrew 5 5555.56x
Kelso 4 242.42x
Seaton Delaval 4 333.33x
York St Mary 4 106.38x
Hartley 2 555.56x
Liverpool 2 3.03x
Togstone 2 2857.14x
Wanborough 2 714.29x
Woking 2 74.35x
Dunfermline 1 11.99x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 34.36x
Everleigh 1 909.09x
Funtington 1 285.71x
Laverstock 1 714.29x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.13x
Peterborough 1 16.03x
South Stoneham 1 24.51x
Uffington 1 555.56x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Amour surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ann 7
Sarah 6
Mary 5
Margaret 4
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Dinah 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Lizzie 1
Magt. 1
Meggie 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Amour surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 9
James 8
William 7
George 5
Samuel 4
Richard 3
Ernest 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Amour households.

FAQ

Amour surname: questions and answers

How common was the Amour surname in 1881?

In 1881, 97 people were recorded with the Amour surname. That placed it at #20,127 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Amour surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016. That gives Amour a modern rank of #19,591.

What does the Amour surname mean?

A French surname meaning "love" or "lover".

What does the Amour map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Amour bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.