NameCensus.

UK surname

Armour

An occupational surname for one who made armor or was an armorer.

In the 1881 census there were 1,883 people recorded with the Armour surname, ranking it #2,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,351, ranked #2,783, down from #2,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Greenock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kintyre Trail, Campbeltown and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Armour is 2,351 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.9%.

1881 census count

1,883

Ranked #2,314

Modern count

2,351

2016, ranked #2,783

Peak year

2016

2,351 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Armour had 1,883 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,351 in 2016, ranked #2,783.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,315 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Armour surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Armour surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Armour 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 1,248 #2,291
1861 historical 1,370 #2,090
1881 historical 1,883 #2,314
1891 historical 2,082 #2,226
1901 historical 2,315 #2,349
1911 historical 633 #6,564
1997 modern 2,169 #2,855
1998 modern 2,231 #2,884
1999 modern 2,238 #2,898
2000 modern 2,283 #2,828
2001 modern 2,214 #2,851
2002 modern 2,238 #2,879
2003 modern 2,167 #2,904
2004 modern 2,198 #2,867
2005 modern 2,193 #2,846
2006 modern 2,143 #2,895
2007 modern 2,150 #2,912
2008 modern 2,169 #2,916
2009 modern 2,214 #2,933
2010 modern 2,245 #2,957
2011 modern 2,217 #2,954
2012 modern 2,270 #2,841
2013 modern 2,304 #2,850
2014 modern 2,347 #2,823
2015 modern 2,334 #2,806
2016 modern 2,351 #2,783

Geography

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Where Armours are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Greenock, Glasgow and Kilmarnock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kintyre Trail, Campbeltown, South Tyneside, Grange, Howard and Gargieston and Bellfield and Kirkstyle. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Greenock Renfrew
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kilmarnock Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute
2 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
3 South Tyneside 021 South Tyneside
4 Grange, Howard and Gargieston East Ayrshire
5 Bellfield and Kirkstyle East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Armour

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Armour

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Armour surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Armour household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Armour is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Armour 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

Armour falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Armour

The surname Armour is of English and Scottish origin, derived from the Old French word "armure" meaning armor or protective covering. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for those who made or sold armor, or for soldiers who wore armor in battle.

The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the late 12th century in England. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William le Armurer, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1195. The name was also found in Scotland in the 13th century, with a Robert le Armurer appearing in the Ragman Rolls of 1296.

In the 14th century, the surname was often spelled as Armurer or Armourer, reflecting its occupational origins. The variant spelling Armour became more common in the 16th century, as the name evolved from its occupational roots to become a hereditary surname.

Notable historical figures with the surname Armour include Sir John Armour (1568-1650), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Another notable bearer was William Armour (1730-1783), a Scottish poet and writer who was a contemporary of Robert Burns.

In England, the surname Armour was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Staffordshire. In Scotland, it was found in the regions of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire.

Other notable individuals with the surname Armour throughout history include:

1. Jonathan Armour (1750-1835), a Scottish-American merchant and businessman who founded the Armour Family business dynasty.

2. Philip Armour (1832-1901), an American industrialist and founder of the Armour Meat Packing Company.

3. Norman Armour (1887-1982), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Sedgefield.

4. Reginald Armour (1906-1976), a British actor and playwright known for his work in the theatre.

5. Richard Armour (1906-1989), an American author and humorist, best known for his satirical writings on topics such as poetry and grammar.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Armour families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Armour 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. Lanarkshire leads with 530 Armours recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.95x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 530 8.95x
Ayrshire 359 26.20x
Renfrewshire 250 17.62x
Argyllshire 99 19.42x
Midlothian 99 4.04x
Lancashire 93 0.43x
Durham 75 1.38x
Middlesex 44 0.24x
Northumberland 41 1.51x
Stirlingshire 39 5.78x
Fife 36 3.32x
West Lothian 28 10.15x
Angus 23 1.36x
Bedfordshire 22 2.32x
Essex 15 0.42x
Dunbartonshire 13 2.64x
Clackmannanshire 12 7.94x
Perthshire 11 1.34x
Surrey 11 0.12x
Wigtownshire 9 3.70x
Derbyshire 8 0.28x
Flintshire 8 1.63x
Hertfordshire 7 0.55x
Cheshire 6 0.15x
Dorset 5 0.42x
Orkney 5 2.48x
Sussex 5 0.16x
Yorkshire 5 0.03x
Buteshire 4 3.61x
Kent 4 0.06x
Staffordshire 3 0.05x
Berwickshire 1 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.03x
Inverness-shire 1 0.18x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.38x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 191 Armours recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.04x.

Place Total Index
Govan 191 13.04x
Kilmarnock 134 82.16x
Glasgow 110 10.46x
Barony 87 5.81x
Campbeltown 77 125.22x
Abbey 75 34.64x
West Greenock 47 18.45x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 45 4.56x
Kilmaurs 33 141.51x
Ardrossan 26 54.82x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 26 15.98x
Lasswade 24 42.80x
Avondale 22 63.55x
Clifton 22 240.44x
Bishopwearmouth 19 4.06x
Irvine 19 49.92x
New Monkland 19 10.85x
Paisley High Church 19 16.82x
St Quivox 19 41.01x
Rutherglen 18 20.72x
Dunfermline 17 10.20x
East Greenock 17 12.69x
Eastwood 17 19.45x
Stewarton 17 62.71x
Cambusnethan 16 12.17x
Cathcart 15 19.54x
East Kilbride 15 59.15x
Chelsea London 14 2.54x
Paisley Middle Church 13 15.74x
Toxteth Park 13 1.77x
Everton 12 1.73x
Killean Kilchenzie 12 138.57x
Tillicoultry 12 35.67x
Bathgate 10 16.71x
Dunipace 10 84.60x
Kilbarchan 10 23.20x
Neilston 10 14.04x
Shotts 10 14.11x
Bothwell 9 5.60x
Bradford 9 8.85x
Dalmellington 9 22.34x
Dundee 9 1.42x
Falkirk 9 5.69x
Kirkliston 9 55.97x
North Bedburn 9 59.13x
North Leith 9 7.93x
Ryhope 9 23.80x
South Leith 9 3.26x
Stevenston 9 25.20x
Straiton 9 115.53x
Stranraer 9 40.47x
Ayr 8 12.37x
Glassford 8 87.62x
Inverkip 8 23.92x
Kinnoull 8 37.04x
Saddell Skipness 8 110.19x
St Ninians 8 11.95x
Wardleworth 8 6.44x
Westoe 8 2.59x
Carmunnock 7 154.19x
Galston 7 18.68x
Gateshead 7 1.72x
Hartlepool 7 9.04x
Hitchin 7 12.29x
Liff Benvie 7 2.72x
Netteswell 7 336.54x
Riccarton 7 33.87x
Riccarton Hurlford 7 29.12x
Thornton In Fylde 7 14.73x
Abbotshall 6 14.81x
Battersea 6 0.89x
Cromford 6 89.02x
Kilmalcolm 6 35.29x
Kinglassie 6 72.73x
Little Bolton 6 2.15x
Newton On Ayr 6 14.62x
St Marylebone London 6 0.61x
Tonge With Haulgh 6 14.19x
Tynemouth 6 4.11x
Westminster St John 6 2.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 16
Margaret 9
Isabella 8
Jane 8
Ellen 7
Emma 7
Agnes 5
Annie 5
Catherine 5
Edith 5
Sarah 5
Barbara 4
Martha 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Christina 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Bella 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Dorothy 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Isabel.M. 1
J.A. 1
Jane.L. 1
Janet 1
Janey 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Juliana 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Marianne 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 26
James 16
Robert 15
Joseph 10
George 8
Thomas 8
Andrew 6
Richard 5
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Harry 3
Alexander 2
Alexr. 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Jonathan 2
Roland 2
Stewart 2
Adam 1
Amos 1
Andrew.L. 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Duncan 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
H.W. 1
Hamilton 1
Herbert 1
Josh.John 1
Laurence.H. 1
Magness 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Michal 1
Rd. 1
Rober 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm.John 1

FAQ

Armour surname: questions and answers

How common was the Armour surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,883 people were recorded with the Armour surname. That placed it at #2,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Armour surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,351 in 2016. That gives Armour a modern rank of #2,783.

What does the Armour surname mean?

An occupational surname for one who made armor or was an armorer.

What does the Armour map show?

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