NameCensus.

UK surname

Diment

An occupational surname likely derived from the Middle English word "dementir", meaning to void or nullify.

In the 1881 census there were 450 people recorded with the Diment surname, ranking it #7,321 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 698, ranked #7,719, down from #7,321 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Combe St Nicholas, Winterbourne Steepleton and Chard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Pembrokeshire and New Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Diment is 779 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.1%.

1881 census count

450

Ranked #7,321

Modern count

698

2016, ranked #7,719

Peak year

2000

779 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Diment had 450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,321 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016, ranked #7,719.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 745 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Diment surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Diment surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Diment 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 452 #5,452
1861 historical 342 #7,460
1881 historical 450 #7,321
1891 historical 448 #8,099
1901 historical 630 #6,801
1911 historical 745 #5,765
1997 modern 751 #6,874
1998 modern 765 #6,993
1999 modern 767 #7,011
2000 modern 779 #6,920
2001 modern 750 #6,987
2002 modern 775 #6,952
2003 modern 741 #7,083
2004 modern 729 #7,166
2005 modern 695 #7,392
2006 modern 682 #7,525
2007 modern 700 #7,422
2008 modern 702 #7,463
2009 modern 710 #7,556
2010 modern 737 #7,471
2011 modern 738 #7,405
2012 modern 689 #7,692
2013 modern 711 #7,641
2014 modern 711 #7,678
2015 modern 706 #7,671
2016 modern 698 #7,719

Geography

Back to top

Where Diments are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Combe St Nicholas, Winterbourne Steepleton, Chard, London parishes and Beaford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Pembrokeshire, New Forest, Mid Devon and South Somerset. 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 Combe St Nicholas Somerset
2 Winterbourne Steepleton Dorset
3 Chard Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Beaford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
2 Pembrokeshire 016 Pembrokeshire
3 New Forest 012 New Forest
4 Mid Devon 001 Mid Devon
5 South Somerset 006 South Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Diment

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Diment

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Diment surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Diment household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Diment is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Diment is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Diment falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Diment

The surname Diment is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period in the county of Somerset. It is derived from the Old English words "dyne," meaning a hill or down, and "ment," signifying a region or district, thus translating to "the hill district."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Diment name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Dymenton," referring to a place near the town of Bridgwater in Somerset. The spelling variations during this time included Dymenton, Dymonton, and Dymmenton.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Dymenton holding lands in Somerset, indicating the family's presence and influence in the area. The surname Diment is also linked to the village of Dimmer, located near the town of Yeovil in Somerset, suggesting a possible connection between the name and this geographic location.

Notable individuals bearing the Diment surname include:

1. William Diment (1551-1622), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Malston in Somerset. 2. Thomas Diment (1634-1690), a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Bridgwater, Somerset. 3. Mary Diment (1691-1754), an heiress from Somerset who married into the influential Paulet family. 4. John Diment (1718-1803), a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker from the village of Dimmer, Somerset. 5. Samuel Diment (1820-1892), a British architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in Somerset and Devon.

As the Diment family spread across England and beyond, the surname evolved into various spellings, including Dymment, Dimont, and Dyment, reflecting regional linguistic variations and preferences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Diment families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Diment 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. Dorset leads with 178 Diments recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.24x.

County Total Index
Dorset 178 61.24x
Somerset 97 13.61x
Devon 46 4.99x
Middlesex 36 0.81x
Surrey 19 0.88x
Hampshire 18 1.98x
Glamorgan 15 1.95x
Kent 12 0.79x
Channel Islands 6 4.57x
Cornwall 6 1.20x
Yorkshire 6 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.12x
Gloucestershire 3 0.35x
Wiltshire 3 0.77x
Durham 2 0.15x
Warwickshire 2 0.18x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chard in Somerset leads with 35 Diments recorded in 1881 and an index of 405.56x.

Place Total Index
Chard 35 405.56x
Corscombe 18 1818.18x
Isle Brewers 12 2500.00x
Netherbury 12 500.00x
Bridport 11 183.95x
Dolton 11 964.91x
Ealing 11 27.79x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 11 679.01x
Allington 10 386.10x
Islington London 10 2.33x
Seaton 10 281.69x
Winterborne Steepleton 10 4545.45x
Melcombe Regis 9 74.69x
Wambrook 9 2250.00x
Cardiff St Mary 8 18.84x
Clist Hydon 8 1904.76x
Fleet 8 3809.52x
West Knighton 8 1702.13x
Buckland Newton 7 538.46x
Portland 7 44.79x
Sherborne 7 81.78x
Southampton St Mary 7 12.26x
Alton Pancras 6 1538.46x
Ashford 6 40.79x
Cheddington 6 3529.41x
Combe St Nicholas 6 348.84x
Fordington 6 95.85x
Rotherhithe 6 10.96x
St Helier 6 14.04x
Yeovil 6 41.44x
Broad Clist 5 157.23x
Crewkerne 5 66.05x
Hunslet 5 7.31x
Lambeth 5 1.29x
Limehouse London 5 10.28x
Dartford 4 25.89x
Maiden Newton 4 327.87x
Nether Cerne 4 2857.14x
Newcastle Higher 4 76.34x
Portsea 4 2.25x
St Ive 4 124.22x
Stoke D Abernon 4 634.92x
Whippingham 4 58.22x
Bedminster 3 4.48x
Broomfield 3 468.75x
Buckland St Mary 3 326.09x
Burley 3 312.50x
Eton 3 49.42x
Evershot 3 394.74x
Hinton St George 3 291.26x
Kingstone 3 857.14x
Silverton 3 156.25x
St Bartholomew Great 3 74.44x
Westbury On Trym 3 10.19x
Willesden 3 7.19x
Aston 2 0.65x
Bawdrip 2 333.33x
Bradford Abbas 2 259.74x
Butleigh 2 170.94x
Charminster 2 86.58x
Conside Knitsley 2 19.53x
Dorchester St Peter 2 94.79x
East Brent 2 185.19x
Minster In Sheppey 2 7.99x
Misterton 2 198.02x
Otterhampton 2 555.56x
Over Stowey 2 253.16x
Puddletown 2 112.36x
Redruth 2 14.10x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.56x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.10x
Stratford Under Castle 2 416.67x
Stratton 2 444.44x
Swansea Town 2 3.16x
Symondsbury 2 108.11x
Wandsworth 2 4.69x
Wyke Regis 2 47.96x
Merton 1 26.46x
Norwood 1 9.87x
St Giles In The Wood 1 72.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 22
Eliza 16
Elizabeth 14
Ann 13
Emily 10
Emma 9
Annie 7
Charlotte 7
Hannah 7
Jane 7
Louisa 7
Edith 6
Alice 5
Fanny 4
Bessie 3
Ellen 3
Lucy 3
Rosa 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Frances 2
Hester 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Rosina 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Emeline 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Hellen 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kitty 1
Laure 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Phobe 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 27
George 20
Henry 13
James 11
Joseph 11
Robert 11
Samuel 9
Walter 8
David 6
Thomas 6
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Edwin 4
Levi 4
Wm. 4
Francis 3
Job 3
Joel 3
Benjamin 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Jos. 2
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Christover 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Fredk.C. 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredrick 1
Hamilton 1
Hugh 1
Hy.E. 1
Jessie 1
Martha 1
Nathaniel 1
Phares 1
Philip 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Will 1

FAQ

Diment surname: questions and answers

How common was the Diment surname in 1881?

In 1881, 450 people were recorded with the Diment surname. That placed it at #7,321 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Diment surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016. That gives Diment a modern rank of #7,719.

What does the Diment surname mean?

An occupational surname likely derived from the Middle English word "dementir", meaning to void or nullify.

What does the Diment map show?

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