NameCensus.

UK surname

Dummer

A locational surname derived from the German village of Dummer.

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Dummer surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 461, ranked #10,625, down from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Cocking and Neath. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Arun and Neath Port Talbot.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dummer is 534 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.7%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

461

2016, ranked #10,625

Peak year

1998

534 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dummer had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016, ranked #10,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 505 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dummer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dummer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dummer 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 220 #9,671
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 481 #8,291
1911 historical 505 #7,782
1997 modern 518 #9,066
1998 modern 534 #9,131
1999 modern 530 #9,231
2000 modern 511 #9,468
2001 modern 495 #9,544
2002 modern 497 #9,684
2003 modern 457 #10,156
2004 modern 455 #10,208
2005 modern 429 #10,597
2006 modern 435 #10,525
2007 modern 445 #10,428
2008 modern 443 #10,559
2009 modern 464 #10,407
2010 modern 467 #10,570
2011 modern 462 #10,570
2012 modern 465 #10,422
2013 modern 468 #10,516
2014 modern 467 #10,596
2015 modern 453 #10,769
2016 modern 461 #10,625

Geography

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Where Dummers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Cocking, Neath, Portsmouth, Portsea and Margam. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Arun, Neath Port Talbot and Waverley. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Cocking Sussex
3 Neath Glamorganshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Margam Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 004 Chichester
2 Arun 003 Arun
3 Arun 012 Arun
4 Neath Port Talbot 014 Neath Port Talbot
5 Waverley 010 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dummer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dummer

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Dummer is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dummer is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dummer falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Dummer

The surname DUMMER has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "dun," meaning "hill," and the suffix "-er," indicating someone who lived near a hill or a dummer (a wooded valley or ravine). The earliest recorded instances of this name can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as Dummere and Dommere.

One of the earliest references to the DUMMER surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a William Dommer is listed as a landholder. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by that time. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Dummere is mentioned.

In the 16th century, the DUMMER surname was particularly prevalent in the county of Hampshire, where several notable individuals bearing this name lived. One of the most prominent figures was Edmund Dummer (1561-1623), who served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America.

Another notable DUMMER was Jeremiah Dummer (1681-1739), a prominent colonial agent and author who played a significant role in the establishment of Massachusetts' currency and advocated for colonial rights. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to a family that had emigrated from England.

In the 18th century, the DUMMER name was associated with several place names in England, such as Dummer in Hampshire and Dummer Down in Wiltshire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English roots as the surname itself, reflecting the connection between the name and the topographical features of the areas where it was prevalent.

One of the most celebrated individuals with the DUMMER surname was William Dummer (1677-1761), a British-American military officer and colonial administrator who served as the acting Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1723 to 1728. He was also the founder of Dummer Academy (now Dummer Charity School) in Massachusetts, one of the oldest secondary schools in the United States.

Other notable individuals with the DUMMER surname include Thomas Dummer (c. 1570-1629), an English author and clergyman who wrote several theological works, and Edward Dummer (1590-1644), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dummer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dummer 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. Hampshire leads with 74 Dummers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.02x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 74 12.02x
Sussex 68 13.42x
Glamorgan 49 9.37x
Middlesex 39 1.30x
Wiltshire 26 9.79x
Surrey 20 1.37x
Kent 10 0.98x
Gloucestershire 7 1.19x
Carmarthenshire 5 3.95x
Lancashire 4 0.11x
Hertfordshire 2 0.97x
Somerset 2 0.41x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastbourne in Sussex leads with 29 Dummers recorded in 1881 and an index of 124.41x.

Place Total Index
Eastbourne 29 124.41x
South Stoneham 28 209.58x
Margam 24 411.66x
Chippenham 15 269.30x
Tillington 12 1318.68x
Weeke 11 588.24x
Godalming 10 108.46x
Norwood 10 145.56x
Neath 9 84.59x
Sittingbourne 8 98.89x
Southampton St Mary 8 20.66x
Cocking 7 1186.44x
Laycock 7 583.33x
Llantwit Vairdre 7 119.05x
Lockerley 7 1129.03x
Bishopstoke 6 379.75x
Harrow 6 130.72x
Islington London 6 2.06x
Llandilo Talybont 6 218.18x
Poplar London 6 10.58x
Portsea 6 4.97x
Llanelly 5 17.53x
Ruardean 5 375.94x
Compton 4 1333.33x
Gorton 4 11.94x
Michelmersh 4 336.13x
Petworth 4 132.01x
Puttenham 4 888.89x
Ratcliffe London 4 24.11x
Stoughton 4 625.00x
Aberavon 3 62.37x
Bromham 3 250.00x
Goodworth Clatford 3 576.92x
Shoreditch London 3 2.30x
Wimbledon 3 18.25x
Cheshunt 2 27.62x
Chichester St Pancras 2 132.45x
Clifton 2 6.71x
Croydon 2 2.46x
Heyshott 2 434.78x
Mile End Old Town London 2 3.13x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.26x
Eartham 1 625.00x
Eling 1 16.03x
Guildford Bowling Green 1 2500.00x
Highworth 1 29.41x
Midhurst 1 60.24x
Monks Coppenhall 1 4.00x
Penshurst 1 58.14x
Royal Navy 1 3.27x
Singleton 1 175.44x
St Pancras London 1 0.41x
Subdeanery 1 26.04x
Sutton Bingham 1 2000.00x
Walcot 1 3.88x
Westminster St John 1 2.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 10
Jane 9
Alice 8
Ellen 8
Sarah 8
Annie 5
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Eliza 5
Margaret 5
Ann 4
Harriett 4
Emily 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Anny 1
Beatrice 1
Bess 1
Blanche 1
Burer 1
Catharine 1
Cathrine 1
Constance 1
Esher 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Ida 1
Jesey 1
Judith 1
Julie 1
Kate 1
Margret 1
Miriam 1
Ruth 1
Sophiah 1
Susan 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 14
George 13
Thomas 13
James 10
Alfred 6
David 6
Edward 6
Samuel 6
Charles 5
Henry 5
Frederick 4
Albert 3
Percy 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Chas. 1
Clayton 1
Cornelius 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.J. 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Furzan 1
Gerald 1
Gwilym 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Jack 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Maximus 1
Moses 1
Percival 1
Richard 1
Roland 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Albert 1

FAQ

Dummer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dummer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Dummer surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dummer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016. That gives Dummer a modern rank of #10,625.

What does the Dummer surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the German village of Dummer.

What does the Dummer map show?

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