UK surname
An English surname potentially derived from the Norman French "de Amer", meaning "from Amer".
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Damer surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Damer is 125 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.9%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1891
125 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Damer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Damer surname density by area, 1891 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 | 93 | #17,946 |
| 1861 | historical | 98 | #21,388 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 125 | #20,713 |
| 1901 | historical | 94 | #23,588 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 90 | #28,360 |
| 1998 | modern | 91 | #28,806 |
| 1999 | modern | 88 | #29,287 |
| 2000 | modern | 91 | #28,952 |
| 2001 | modern | 94 | #28,246 |
| 2002 | modern | 91 | #29,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 82 | #30,468 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 84 | #30,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 92 | #29,929 |
| 2008 | modern | 89 | #30,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 91 | #30,944 |
| 2010 | modern | 95 | #31,000 |
| 2011 | modern | 94 | #31,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 80 | #32,877 |
| 2013 | modern | 85 | #32,658 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 86 | #32,604 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Lambeth, Corfe Castle and Melcombe Regis. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Corfe Castle | Dorset |
| 5 | Melcombe Regis | Dorset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Damer 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 Damer, 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 Damer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Damer 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, Damer 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 Damer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Damer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Damer has its origins in France, where it can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "d'amer," meaning "of the bitter one." This may have been a nickname given to an ancestor with a stern or unpleasant demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Damer appears in the Domesday Book, a medieval census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Reginald d'Amer holding lands in Normandy, France.
Over time, the name evolved and took on various spellings, such as d'Amer, Damer, and Dammer. It is thought that the name made its way to England during the Norman Conquest, when many French nobles and soldiers accompanied William the Conqueror.
In the 13th century, the name Damer was associated with the village of Damerham in Hampshire, England. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.
One notable bearer of the Damer surname was Joseph Damer, a British sculptor and artist born in 1718. He is best known for his sculptural works commissioned by the Royal Family and his involvement in the establishment of the Royal Academy of Arts.
Another prominent figure was Anne Seymour Damer, a British sculptor and author born in 1749. She was a member of the aristocracy and was praised for her neoclassical sculptures, which were displayed in prestigious venues like the Royal Academy and the British Museum.
In the 18th century, George Damer, born in 1720, was a British politician and Member of Parliament for Old Sarum and Dorchester. He was also a prominent figure in the horse racing world and owned several successful racehorses.
The Damer family also had connections to Ireland, where Charles Damer, born in 1619, was a politician and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for County Wexford and held significant estates in the region.
Finally, John Damer, born in 1675, was an English author and playwright. He wrote several plays and translations, including works by Molière and Racine, which were performed on the London stage during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Damer 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. Dorset leads with 34 Damers recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 34 | 73.77x |
| Surrey | 12 | 3.51x |
| Essex | 7 | 5.05x |
| Channel Islands | 5 | 24.03x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.60x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.57x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.69x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Corfe Castle in Dorset leads with 15 Damers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3488.37x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Corfe Castle | 15 | 3488.37x |
| Weymouth | 12 | 1379.31x |
| Melcombe Regis | 7 | 366.49x |
| West Ham | 7 | 22.87x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 13.37x |
| Lambeth | 6 | 9.80x |
| Heap | 5 | 113.12x |
| St Helier | 5 | 73.86x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 7.62x |
| Midhurst | 2 | 512.82x |
| Breamore | 1 | 714.29x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.73x |
| Gloucester St Mary Grace | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Salisbury St Martin | 1 | 153.85x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Damer 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 Damer 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 Damer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Laundress | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Working On Farm | 2 |
| (Hosier) Tye Maker | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Blacksmith (Journeyman) | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter Pauper | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Carter Agricultural | 1 |
| Carters Wife | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Conjuring Trick Maker | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| For Coals (Mercht) | 1 |
| Genl Servant | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Hotel Manager | 1 |
| Hotel Proprietor | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Laborer Wife | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Limeburner | 1 |
| Master Mariner | 1 |
| Railway Clerk | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Stoker Cotton Mill | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
| Training For Clerk | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Damer surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Damer a modern rank of #32,815.
An English surname potentially derived from the Norman French "de Amer", meaning "from Amer".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Damer 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.