UK surname
A Scottish surname derived from the Olde English word "clim" meaning a hillock or small hill.
In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Clymo surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #22,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Illogan, Alternon and Gwennap. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Clymo is 109 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.8%.
1881 census count
81
Ranked #22,082
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1851
109 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Clymo surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Clymo surname density by area, 1851 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 | 109 | #16,212 |
| 1861 | historical | 40 | #28,970 |
| 1881 | historical | 81 | #22,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 81 | #26,632 |
| 1901 | historical | 89 | #24,154 |
| 1911 | historical | 69 | #25,965 |
| 1997 | modern | 66 | #31,038 |
| 1998 | modern | 67 | #31,282 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 68 | #31,380 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 72 | #31,269 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 75 | #31,233 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 62 | #33,346 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 61 | #33,915 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 67 | #33,704 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 59 | #34,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 64 | #34,112 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Illogan, Alternon, Gwennap, St Austell and Camborne. 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 | Illogan | Cornwall |
| 2 | Alternon | Cornwall |
| 3 | Gwennap | Cornwall |
| 4 | St Austell | Cornwall |
| 5 | Camborne | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Clymo 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 Clymo, 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 Clymo surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Clymo 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, Clymo 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 Clymo is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Clymo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Clymo is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is thought to have derived from an Old English word "clam" or "clem," which meant "to bind or clasp." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an occupation or trade related to binding or fastening objects, such as a rope maker or a blacksmith.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Clymo can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a certain John Clymo is listed as a resident of the village of Wressle. This historical document provides valuable insight into the presence of the name in the region during the late 14th century.
In the 16th century, the Clymo name appears in various parish records and manorial documents from Yorkshire and Lancashire. For instance, a William Clymo was recorded as a landowner in the manor of Giggleswick, Yorkshire, in 1532. Additionally, the baptismal records of St. Michael's Church in Burgh-by-Sands, Cumbria, mention a Thomas Clymo in 1578.
The Clymo surname has also been associated with certain place names in England. For example, the village of Climow in Bedfordshire may have some connection to the name's origins, although the exact link remains uncertain.
Among the notable individuals bearing the Clymo surname throughout history are:
1. John Clymo (c. 1420 - 1498), a wealthy merchant and landowner from York, who served as an alderman and mayor of the city in the late 15th century.
2. Elizabeth Clymo (c. 1560 - 1632), a skilled embroiderer from Lancashire, known for her intricate needlework on ecclesiastical vestments and tapestries.
3. Robert Clymo (1675 - 1744), a prominent clockmaker and member of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers in London, renowned for his intricate and precise timepieces.
4. Sarah Clymo (1822 - 1897), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education in Yorkshire, who founded the Clymo Academy for Young Ladies in Harrogate.
5. William Clymo (1842 - 1916), a renowned architect from Leeds, responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Yorkshire, including the Grand Theatre in Leeds and the Halifax Town Hall.
While the origins of the Clymo surname can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, due to migration and diaspora over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Clymo 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. Cornwall leads with 65 Clymos recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.68x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camborne in Cornwall leads with 17 Clymos recorded in 1881 and an index of 460.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camborne | 17 | 460.70x |
| Gwennap | 11 | 650.89x |
| Illogan | 11 | 464.14x |
| Wingate | 7 | 434.78x |
| Altarnun | 4 | 1290.32x |
| Lanivet | 4 | 1428.57x |
| Liskeard | 4 | 266.67x |
| Perranzabuloe | 4 | 519.48x |
| Tormoham | 4 | 57.47x |
| Ashburton | 3 | 379.75x |
| St Austell | 3 | 98.04x |
| Gorran | 2 | 800.00x |
| St Ive | 2 | 350.88x |
| Falmouth | 1 | 31.55x |
| Paul | 1 | 61.73x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 7.89x |
| Stoke | 1 | 54.95x |
| Uny Lelant | 1 | 208.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Clymo 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 Clymo 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 Clymo households.
FAQ
In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Clymo surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Clymo a modern rank of #34,017.
A Scottish surname derived from the Olde English word "clim" meaning a hillock or small hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Clymo 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.