NameCensus.

UK surname

Armer

A surname referring to an armorer, one who made or repaired armor.

In the 1881 census there were 373 people recorded with the Armer surname, ranking it #8,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 699, ranked #7,712, up from #8,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Burton-in-Kendal and Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Wyre and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Armer is 755 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.4%.

1881 census count

373

Ranked #8,380

Modern count

699

2016, ranked #7,712

Peak year

1999

755 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Armer had 373 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 699 in 2016, ranked #7,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 613 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Armer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Armer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Armer 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 237 #9,152
1861 historical 305 #8,321
1881 historical 373 #8,380
1891 historical 454 #8,026
1901 historical 525 #7,771
1911 historical 613 #6,725
1997 modern 706 #7,201
1998 modern 748 #7,115
1999 modern 755 #7,116
2000 modern 731 #7,251
2001 modern 704 #7,337
2002 modern 721 #7,340
2003 modern 716 #7,246
2004 modern 715 #7,263
2005 modern 709 #7,256
2006 modern 696 #7,386
2007 modern 700 #7,422
2008 modern 687 #7,595
2009 modern 696 #7,673
2010 modern 726 #7,568
2011 modern 710 #7,615
2012 modern 690 #7,687
2013 modern 716 #7,605
2014 modern 708 #7,707
2015 modern 700 #7,710
2016 modern 699 #7,712

Geography

Back to top

Where Armers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Burton-in-Kendal, Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling), Lancaster and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Wyre and South Lakeland. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Burton-in-Kendal Westmorland
3 Cockerham (Ellel), Lancaster (Preesall with Hackersall) , Garstang (Pilling) Lancashire
4 Lancaster Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 019 Lancaster
2 Wyre 009 Wyre
3 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland
4 Wyre 004 Wyre
5 Lancaster 020 Lancaster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Armer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Armer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Armer, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Armer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Armer 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Armer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Armer is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Armer falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Armer 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 Armer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Armer

The surname Armer has its origins in England, traced back to the early medieval period around the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "armur," meaning "armor" or "arms," suggesting a connection to those who crafted or dealt with armor and weapons.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry records an individual named "Armurier" in Worcestershire, which is believed to be an early variant of the modern Armer surname.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often associated with skilled armorers or blacksmiths who specialized in the production and repair of armor and weapons. As the craft became more specialized, some individuals may have adopted the occupational surname Armer to distinguish themselves from others in the trade.

In the 13th century, historical records mention a notable figure named William le Armer, who was a prominent armorer and citizen of London. He is believed to have been involved in the production of armor and weapons for the English military during the reign of King Henry III.

Another early bearer of the name was John Armer, who was born in the village of Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, in the late 14th century. He is recorded as being a skilled armorer and served as a supplier of armor and weapons to the English army during the Hundred Years' War with France.

The Armer surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Armer Hill in Worcestershire and Armer Lane in Yorkshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the surname or could have been derived from the Old English word "armere," meaning "ploughman" or "farmer."

In the 16th century, Sir Nicholas Armer was a prominent figure who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Appleby in Westmorland (now Cumbria) during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a landowner and influential member of the local gentry.

As the centuries progressed, the Armer surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with notable individuals such as John Armer, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the late 17th century, and William Armer, a successful industrialist and inventor who lived in Manchester during the 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Armer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Armer 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. Lancashire leads with 164 Armers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.82x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 164 3.82x
Westmorland 92 115.67x
Middlesex 25 0.69x
Yorkshire 17 0.47x
Durham 16 1.49x
Essex 13 1.82x
Kent 7 0.57x
Warwickshire 7 0.77x
Berkshire 6 2.21x
Northumberland 6 1.11x
Cumberland 5 1.60x
Oxfordshire 4 1.79x
Surrey 4 0.23x
Gloucestershire 2 0.28x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.68x
Cornwall 1 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cockerham in Lancashire leads with 32 Armers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2909.09x.

Place Total Index
Cockerham 32 2909.09x
Barrow In Furness 20 34.24x
Burton 18 2142.86x
Ulverston 16 127.90x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 14 933.33x
Warton With Lindeth 14 777.78x
Dalton In Furness 12 72.38x
St Pancras London 10 3.43x
Hay Hutton In Hay 8 3076.92x
Levens 8 683.76x
Pilling 8 396.04x
Ambleside 7 283.40x
Birmingham 7 2.30x
Bishopwearmouth 7 7.57x
Dent 7 466.67x
Kirkby Lonsdale 7 325.58x
Mansergh 7 2333.33x
Old Hutton Holmescales 7 1489.36x
Thurnham 7 1060.61x
Egton Cum Newland 6 480.00x
Ellel 6 271.49x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 6 312.50x
Pennington In Ulverston 6 280.37x
Nether Kellet 5 1428.57x
Strickland Roger 5 925.93x
Wolsingham 5 50.97x
Crosthwaite Lyth 4 416.67x
Ewelme 4 540.54x
Farnborough 4 222.22x
Grasmere 4 439.56x
Hackney London 4 1.97x
Ingleton 4 198.02x
Nazeing 4 434.78x
Newthorp 4 4000.00x
Penrith 4 34.75x
Underbarrow Bradley 4 701.75x
Westgate 4 11.99x
Blackburn 3 2.63x
Harwell 3 300.00x
Lee 3 16.73x
Little Parndon 3 2000.00x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 14.27x
Osmotherley 3 508.47x
Shoreditch London 3 1.91x
Berkeley 2 50.63x
Islington London 2 0.57x
Kimberworth 2 10.05x
Latton 2 689.66x
Liverpool 2 0.77x
New Hutton 2 1333.33x
Paddington London 2 1.50x
St George In East London 2 5.88x
Toxteth Park 2 1.38x
West Ham 2 1.27x
Winkfield 2 44.35x
Ashton With Stodday 1 588.24x
Battersea 1 0.75x
Bermondsey 1 0.93x
Camberwell 1 0.43x
Carnforth 1 42.37x
Chiswick 1 5.06x
Cholsey 1 46.51x
Heap 1 4.39x
Holme 1 103.09x
Hutton 1 208.33x
Hutton Roof 1 270.27x
Kendal 1 6.87x
Lancaster 1 3.91x
Natland 1 277.78x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 3.11x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.58x
North Weald Bassett 1 80.65x
Penge 1 4.33x
Skelsmergh 1 217.39x
St Cuthbert W O 1 6.58x
St Matthew Friday Street 1 1666.67x
Sunderland 1 5.26x
Walthamstow 1 3.89x
Walton On Hill 1 4.30x
Wyke Regis 1 29.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 15
Jane 14
Margaret 12
Agnes 7
Hannah 6
Anne 4
Ellen 4
Ann 3
Nancy 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Isabella 2
Martha 2
Pheby 2
Adeline 1
Angelina 1
Anna 1
Annetter 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Cathrine 1
Daisy 1
Dinah 1
Dorothy 1
Elise 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Luna 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Mariah 1
Marrianne 1
Matilda 1
Mercy 1
Millicent 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 29
Thomas 15
James 14
Richard 12
Robert 12
George 10
Anthony 9
Matthew 9
Joseph 7
Henry 6
Charles 4
Edward 3
Alfred 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Michael 2
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Eli 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Issac 1
Joshua 1
Oliver 1
Richd. 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Armer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Armer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 373 people were recorded with the Armer surname. That placed it at #8,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Armer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 699 in 2016. That gives Armer a modern rank of #7,712.

What does the Armer surname mean?

A surname referring to an armorer, one who made or repaired armor.

What does the Armer map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Armer 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.