NameCensus.

UK surname

Armiger

A surname referring to someone who carried armorial bearings or coats of arms.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Armiger surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 351, ranked #13,127, up from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Battersea and Sculthorpe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Isle of Wight and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Armiger is 382 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 333.3%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

351

2016, ranked #13,127

Peak year

2010

382 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Armiger had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016, ranked #13,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 186 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Armiger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Armiger surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Armiger 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 52 #27,369
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 115 #21,878
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 186 #15,643
1997 modern 340 #12,428
1998 modern 341 #12,761
1999 modern 341 #12,851
2000 modern 335 #12,953
2001 modern 324 #13,062
2002 modern 335 #13,020
2003 modern 323 #13,161
2004 modern 331 #12,973
2005 modern 341 #12,605
2006 modern 330 #13,021
2007 modern 342 #12,809
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 369 #12,447
2010 modern 382 #12,410
2011 modern 360 #12,832
2012 modern 362 #12,615
2013 modern 357 #12,984
2014 modern 367 #12,801
2015 modern 361 #12,857
2016 modern 351 #13,127

Geography

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Where Armigers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Battersea, Sculthorpe, Northwold and Walsingham, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Isle of Wight, Breckland and Carlisle. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 Battersea London (South Districts)
3 Sculthorpe Norfolk
4 Northwold Norfolk
5 Walsingham, Great Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 009 North Norfolk
3 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight
4 Breckland 006 Breckland
5 Carlisle 010 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Armiger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Armiger

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Armiger, 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 Armiger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Armiger 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Armiger is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Armiger is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Armiger falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Armiger

The surname Armiger has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "armiger," which means "arms-bearer" or "esquire." This name was typically given to individuals who acted as attendants or assistants to knights or men of higher rank in battle, carrying their armor and weapons.

Armiger was a title bestowed upon certain individuals in the feudal system, indicating their status as squires or esquires. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of the late 12th century, where it appears as "Armiger" or "Armigere."

In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, there are records of landowners and tenants with similar names, such as "Armiger de Normanville" and "Armiger de Builli," suggesting that the name may have originated from these regions in Normandy, France.

One of the earliest known Armigers was Sir John Armiger, a knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He was a prominent figure in the Hundred Years' War and participated in various military campaigns against the French.

Another notable individual with this surname was William Armiger, born in 1540 in Oxfordshire, England. He was a renowned scholar and poet, known for his works that celebrated the English Renaissance.

In the 16th century, Sir Nicholas Armiger, born in 1562 in Somerset, England, gained recognition as a successful merchant and landowner. He played a vital role in the expansion of trade routes and contributed significantly to the economic development of his region.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Colonel Richard Armiger, born in 1610 in Yorkshire, was a prominent military figure who fought loyally for the Royalist cause under King Charles I.

The surname Armiger has also been associated with various places in England, such as Armiger's Green in Hertfordshire and Armiger's Hall in Staffordshire, suggesting that some individuals with this name may have been landowners or held positions of influence in these areas.

Throughout history, the surname Armiger has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including knights, scholars, merchants, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and roles associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Armiger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Armiger 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. Norfolk leads with 48 Armigers recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.52x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 48 39.52x
Middlesex 13 1.65x
Sussex 7 5.26x
Surrey 5 1.30x
Lancashire 3 0.32x
Lincolnshire 3 2.38x
Northumberland 2 1.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Walsingham in Norfolk leads with 8 Armigers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.

Place Total Index
Great Walsingham 8 6666.67x
Morston 8 16000.00x
Billingford In Mitford 6 6666.67x
Kensington London 6 13.66x
Westdean 6 15000.00x
Igborough 5 10000.00x
Westminster St John 5 51.98x
Battersea 4 13.76x
Sculthorpe 4 2500.00x
Stiffkey 4 3333.33x
Newchurch 3 39.11x
Northwold 3 909.09x
Barmer 2 20000.00x
Burnham Westgate 2 769.23x
Necton 2 952.38x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 32.84x
St Martin Lincoln 2 170.94x
St Pancras London 2 3.15x
Bawdeswell 1 833.33x
Brandon 1 153.85x
Burnham Thorpe 1 1000.00x
Caterham 1 58.82x
East Blatchington 1 1666.67x
Great Grimsby 1 12.47x
South Creake 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 7
James 6
Charles 2
Frank 2
George 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
(Mr.) 1
Alfred 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Jane 1
Joseph 1
Micheal 1
Peter 1
Walter 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 Armiger households.

FAQ

Armiger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Armiger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Armiger surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Armiger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 351 in 2016. That gives Armiger a modern rank of #13,127.

What does the Armiger surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who carried armorial bearings or coats of arms.

What does the Armiger map show?

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