NameCensus.

UK surname

Damms

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a dam or dams.

In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Damms surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 346, ranked #13,291, up from #13,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Sheffield and Rotherham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Sheffield and East Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Damms is 360 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.2%.

1881 census count

180

Ranked #13,735

Modern count

346

2016, ranked #13,291

Peak year

1999

360 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Damms had 180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016, ranked #13,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 288 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Damms surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Damms surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Damms 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 135 #13,964
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 180 #13,735
1891 historical 213 #14,269
1901 historical 257 #12,898
1911 historical 288 #11,757
1997 modern 347 #12,251
1998 modern 349 #12,567
1999 modern 360 #12,371
2000 modern 338 #12,877
2001 modern 335 #12,759
2002 modern 344 #12,777
2003 modern 346 #12,511
2004 modern 352 #12,399
2005 modern 346 #12,464
2006 modern 328 #13,073
2007 modern 332 #13,087
2008 modern 337 #13,068
2009 modern 346 #13,075
2010 modern 357 #13,036
2011 modern 360 #12,832
2012 modern 351 #12,942
2013 modern 340 #13,449
2014 modern 344 #13,426
2015 modern 344 #13,332
2016 modern 346 #13,291

Geography

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Where Damms' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Sheffield, Rotherham and Dronfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Sheffield and East Lindsey. 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 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Dronfield Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 002 Boston
2 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
3 Sheffield 001 Sheffield
4 Sheffield 075 Sheffield
5 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Damms

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Damms

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Damms surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Damms household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Damms is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Damms is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Damms 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 Damms is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Damms, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Damms

The surname DAMMS has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the German word "Damm," which translates to "dam" or "embankment." This suggests that the name may have originally been associated with individuals who lived near or worked on dams or embankments.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DAMMS can be found in the town records of Cologne, Germany, from the year 1562. The entry mentions a certain Hans DAMMS, who was a merchant and landowner in the city. This early record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the Cologne region.

In the 17th century, the name DAMMS appeared in various German church records and legal documents, particularly in the states of Bavaria and Saxony. These records often included variations in spelling, such as DAMMES, DAMMSE, and DAMMSEN, reflecting the fluidity of surnames during that time period.

Notably, a prominent figure bearing the name DAMMS was Johann Georg DAMMS (1677-1742), a German mathematician and astronomer. He was born in Nuremberg and made significant contributions to the fields of celestial mechanics and astronomy during the early 18th century.

Another individual of historical note was Friedrich DAMMS (1802-1884), a German composer and music teacher. He was born in Berlin and composed several works for chamber ensembles and orchestras, contributing to the cultural landscape of 19th-century Germany.

In the 19th century, the name DAMMS began to appear in various regions of the United States, likely due to German immigration. One notable American bearer of the name was August DAMMS (1828-1902), a Prussian-born engineer who played a crucial role in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in the 1860s.

Additionally, the name DAMMS has been associated with certain place names in Germany, such as the town of Dammsmühle in Lower Saxony, which translates to "Dam Mill." This connection further reinforces the name's origins and its ties to geographic features related to dams or embankments.

Throughout history, the surname DAMMS has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, landowners, scholars, artists, and engineers. While its origins can be traced back to Germany, the name has spread to different parts of the world, reflecting the mobility and migration patterns of its bearers over centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Damms families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Damms 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. Yorkshire leads with 88 Damms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 88 5.06x
Lincolnshire 32 11.40x
Derbyshire 23 8.37x
Northamptonshire 16 9.69x
Warwickshire 7 1.58x
Norfolk 5 1.85x
Nottinghamshire 3 1.27x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.80x
Huntingdonshire 2 5.74x
Surrey 2 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 34 Damms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.38x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 34 61.38x
Kimberworth 12 124.22x
Skirbeck Quarter 12 2352.94x
Brightside Bierlow 11 32.24x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 55.52x
Nether Hallam 9 38.23x
Rothwell 9 542.17x
Dronfield 8 227.27x
Sibsey 8 1269.84x
Chesterfield 7 67.96x
Cottingham 7 1228.07x
Greasbrough 7 304.35x
Aston 6 4.92x
Downham Market 5 270.27x
Holmesfield 5 1666.67x
North Kyme 5 1190.48x
Heeley 4 75.61x
Fishtoft 3 545.45x
Norton 3 132.16x
Huntingdon St Benedict 2 454.55x
Littleport 2 94.34x
Putney 2 25.00x
Worksop 2 28.49x
Alger Kirk Amber Hill 1 769.23x
Boston 1 11.74x
Brinsworth 1 123.46x
Ecclesfield 1 7.84x
Frieston 1 149.25x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.63x
Rugby 1 16.69x
Wyberton 1 256.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Sarah 9
Ellen 7
Annie 6
Elizabeth 6
Eliza 4
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Harriett 2
Lilly 2
Lucetta 2
Lucy 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Emmelar 1
Fanny 1
Harriott 1
Hephzibah 1
Jane 1
Jessia 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Phebe 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 13
William 12
John 11
Henry 5
Charles 4
Samuel 4
Joseph 3
Frank 2
Fred 2
James 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Tom 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gately 1
Harry 1
Luke 1
Mary 1
Stephen 1
Thos 1
Timothy 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Damms surname: questions and answers

How common was the Damms surname in 1881?

In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Damms surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Damms surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016. That gives Damms a modern rank of #13,291.

What does the Damms surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a dam or dams.

What does the Damms map show?

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