UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a climber or someone who lived near a hill or mountain.
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Clymer surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 60, ranked #34,340, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Yardley, Gateshead and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clymer is 108 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.4%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
60
2016, ranked #34,340
Peak year
1911
108 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clymer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clymer surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 61 | #22,412 |
| 1861 | historical | 45 | #28,296 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 52 | #30,061 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 108 | #21,736 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 60 | #31,931 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 65 | #31,641 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 65 | #32,177 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 57 | #33,513 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 63 | #34,002 |
| 2011 | modern | 59 | #34,265 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 61 | #34,317 |
| 2014 | modern | 61 | #34,343 |
| 2015 | modern | 60 | #34,361 |
| 2016 | modern | 60 | #34,340 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Yardley, Gateshead, Wednesbury, Kidderminster and Beckenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Wednesbury | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Kidderminster | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Beckenham | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clymer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Clymer, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Clymer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clymer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Clymer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Clymer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clymer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Clymer is of English origin, rooted in the Old English word "climor," which means "a bawler" or "a crier." It likely originated in the medieval period, when occupational surnames were commonly adopted to distinguish people with similar first names.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Clymer can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, England, dated 1332, where a John Clymour was listed. This suggests that the name was already in use by the 14th century.
In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records with different spellings, such as Clymour, Clymmer, and Clymmer, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spelling during that era.
The Clymer surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Clymers Wood in Buckinghamshire and Clymer's Hill in Oxfordshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname or vice versa.
Notable individuals with the surname Clymer include:
1. George Clymer (1739-1813), an American politician and one of the Founding Fathers who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
2. Hiester Clymer (1827-1912), a Union Army officer during the American Civil War and later a prominent politician in Pennsylvania.
3. John Clymer (1907-1989), an American artist renowned for his illustrations of historical subjects and his work for National Geographic magazine.
4. Eleanor Clymer (1906-2001), an American author and children's book writer best known for her award-winning book "The Tiny Parents."
5. Benjamin Clymer (1825-1910), an American politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.
The Clymer surname has deep roots in English history and can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the occupational origins of many surnames during that time. While the spelling has evolved over the centuries, the name has been borne by notable individuals across various fields, leaving a lasting legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clymer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 14 Clymers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 14 | 8.18x |
| Worcestershire | 11 | 16.61x |
| Surrey | 8 | 3.24x |
| Kent | 5 | 2.89x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 3.13x |
| Devon | 3 | 2.84x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 3.02x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.79x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.17x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 8 Clymers recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.09x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 8 | 18.09x |
| Walsall Foreign | 6 | 67.87x |
| Wednesbury | 6 | 140.19x |
| Bromley | 5 | 189.39x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 5 | 128.87x |
| Bromsgrove | 4 | 179.37x |
| Edgbaston | 3 | 75.57x |
| Thorverton | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Bristol All Sts | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Cheadle | 2 | 93.46x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 2.35x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 10.68x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 23.70x |
| Kidderminster Foreign | 1 | 106.38x |
| Newchurch | 1 | 20.33x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.36x |
| Stone | 1 | 909.09x |
| Tipton | 1 | 19.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clymer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Clymer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Clymer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Bricklayers Laborer | 2 |
| Carpet Weaver | 2 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Carpenter At Furnace | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farmer Of 7 Acres | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Governess (Teacher) | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Jewllers Wife | 1 |
| Labourer At Salt Works | 1 |
| Mill Hand | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Printer Compositor | 1 |
| Publishers Warehouseman | 1 |
| Warehouse Clerk | 1 |
| Watch Maker | 1 |
| Watchman In Ironworks | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Clymer surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 60 in 2016. That gives Clymer a modern rank of #34,340.
An English occupational surname referring to a climber or someone who lived near a hill or mountain.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clymer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.