NameCensus.

UK surname

Elmer

Noble and renowned, or possibly referring to a noble and famous army.

In the 1881 census there were 1,019 people recorded with the Elmer surname, ranking it #3,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,200, ranked #4,958, down from #3,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Upwell and Lindsey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Darlington and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elmer is 1,448 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.8%.

1881 census count

1,019

Ranked #3,843

Modern count

1,200

2016, ranked #4,958

Peak year

1911

1,448 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elmer had 1,019 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,200 in 2016, ranked #4,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,448 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elmer 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 665 #3,904
1861 historical 514 #5,094
1881 historical 1,019 #3,843
1891 historical 1,090 #3,877
1901 historical 1,240 #3,989
1911 historical 1,448 #3,333
1997 modern 1,222 #4,643
1998 modern 1,259 #4,694
1999 modern 1,288 #4,637
2000 modern 1,288 #4,619
2001 modern 1,253 #4,639
2002 modern 1,250 #4,734
2003 modern 1,220 #4,739
2004 modern 1,204 #4,800
2005 modern 1,150 #4,949
2006 modern 1,134 #4,996
2007 modern 1,151 #4,979
2008 modern 1,181 #4,894
2009 modern 1,189 #4,971
2010 modern 1,184 #5,103
2011 modern 1,201 #4,972
2012 modern 1,194 #4,934
2013 modern 1,228 #4,900
2014 modern 1,220 #4,948
2015 modern 1,201 #4,969
2016 modern 1,200 #4,958

Geography

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Where Elmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Upwell, Lindsey and Boxford, Groton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Darlington and Tendring. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Upwell Cambridgeshire
4 Lindsey Suffolk
5 Boxford, Groton Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk
2 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
3 Darlington 006 Darlington
4 Tendring 004 Tendring
5 Tendring 002 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elmer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Elmer, 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 Elmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Elmer 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Elmer is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elmer is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elmer falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elmer

The surname ELMER has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "aelm," which means "elm tree," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked with elm trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions an individual named Ælmær, a landowner in Bedfordshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings, including Elmer, Elmere, and Aylmere. These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the 13th century, records show an individual named William Elmer as a landowner in Suffolk. This suggests that the name had become more established and associated with specific families by this point.

Notable individuals with the surname ELMER throughout history include:

1. Jonathan Elmer (1745-1817), a physician and politician who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and as a member of the New Jersey Legislative Council.

2. Ebenezer Elmer (1752-1843), an American lawyer and statesman who served as the Attorney General of New Jersey and as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

3. Alfred Elmer (1870-1942), an American chemist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry and served as the president of Stanford University from 1917 to 1923.

4. Herbert Charles Elmer (1886-1944), a British artist and illustrator known for his paintings of rural landscapes and his illustrations for books and magazines.

5. Veronica Elmer (1916-2003), an American actress and model who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout the mid-20th century.

The surname ELMER has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Elmer's End in Kent, Elmer's Green in Buckinghamshire, and Elmer Sands in West Sussex. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname ELMER who had connections to or resided in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elmer 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. Suffolk leads with 243 Elmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.07x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 243 20.07x
Middlesex 148 1.49x
Norfolk 104 6.80x
Yorkshire 99 1.01x
Essex 85 4.33x
Surrey 74 1.53x
Lancashire 49 0.42x
Hampshire 26 1.28x
Kent 21 0.62x
Northamptonshire 21 2.25x
Buckinghamshire 17 2.83x
Sussex 17 1.01x
Lincolnshire 16 1.01x
Cambridgeshire 15 2.38x
Cheshire 11 0.50x
Huntingdonshire 11 5.57x
Berkshire 7 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.52x
Oxfordshire 7 1.14x
Gloucestershire 6 0.31x
Hertfordshire 6 0.88x
Staffordshire 6 0.18x
Leicestershire 5 0.45x
Warwickshire 5 0.20x
Bedfordshire 3 0.58x
Somerset 3 0.19x
Durham 2 0.07x
Worcestershire 2 0.15x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.84x
Wiltshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Boxted in Essex leads with 36 Elmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1281.14x.

Place Total Index
Boxted 36 1281.14x
St Pancras London 34 4.25x
Lindsey 24 3157.89x
Lambeth 23 2.65x
Boxford 22 982.14x
Battersea 17 4.65x
Oving 17 1297.71x
St George Hanover Square 15 8.56x
Stoke By Nayland 14 358.06x
Bury St Edmunds St James 13 40.20x
Goodworth Clatford 13 760.23x
Hadleigh 13 110.64x
Haughley 13 430.46x
Islington London 13 1.35x
Stowmarket 13 92.92x
Tendring 13 449.83x
West Winch 13 935.25x
Camberwell 12 1.89x
Gislingham 12 638.30x
Hackney London 12 2.15x
Kensington London 12 2.17x
Newton 12 789.47x
Deptford St Paul 11 4.21x
Great Waldingfield 11 550.00x
Long Melford 11 97.78x
Acton 10 17.16x
Downham Market 10 95.24x
Leeds 10 1.80x
Little Bolton 10 6.59x
St Marylebone London 10 1.88x
Sutton On Forest 10 510.20x
Colchester St Peter 9 114.65x
Heigham 9 10.97x
West Ham 9 2.08x
Worsley 9 12.38x
Hove 8 10.88x
North Elmham 8 215.63x
Shoreditch London 8 1.86x
Tottington Lower End 8 14.27x
Gorton 7 6.31x
Knapwell 7 1093.75x
New Windsor 7 27.91x
Northampton Priory St 7 12.48x
Nottingham St Nicholas 7 38.36x
Old Newton 7 300.43x
Bermondsey 6 2.03x
Bibury 6 255.32x
Brandon 6 73.08x
Chilton 6 618.56x
Great Grimsby 6 5.95x
Great Little Snarehill 6 3333.33x
Halifax 6 4.15x
Lakenham 6 27.62x
Nether Poppleton 6 600.00x
Oxford St Ebbe 6 33.20x
Peterborough 6 8.86x
Ruswarp 6 54.74x
Thetford St Cuthbert 6 108.50x
Thorpe In Balne 6 983.61x
Upper Clatford 6 238.10x
Warboys 6 105.26x
West Bergholt 6 163.93x
Wiggenhall St German 6 333.33x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.16x
Brockley 5 462.96x
Croydon 5 1.86x
Grimston 5 129.53x
Horsforth 5 23.15x
Leicester St Margaret 5 1.86x
Mitcham 5 16.33x
Paddington London 5 1.37x
Rattlesden 5 141.24x
Strensall 5 328.95x
Terrington St John 5 217.39x
Tranmere 5 6.20x
Upwell 5 70.32x
Walpole St Andrew 5 209.21x
Wisbech St Peter 5 15.84x
York All Sts North 5 102.46x
York St Denis In 4 92.59x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 62
John 53
George 48
Thomas 40
James 29
Charles 27
Henry 21
Arthur 16
Frederick 15
Joseph 15
Harry 14
Robert 14
Ernest 9
Edward 8
Herbert 8
Albert 7
Samuel 7
Walter 7
Richard 6
Alfred 4
David 4
Benjamin 3
Edgar 3
Ephraim 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Wm. 3
Dennis 2
Edwin 2
Frederic 2
Jesse 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Asher 1
Auther 1
Barnabas 1
Bartie 1
Daniel 1
Daniell 1
Earnest 1
Eber 1
Edmund 1
Geo. 1
Hugh 1
J.W. 1
Jessie 1

FAQ

Elmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,019 people were recorded with the Elmer surname. That placed it at #3,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,200 in 2016. That gives Elmer a modern rank of #4,958.

What does the Elmer surname mean?

Noble and renowned, or possibly referring to a noble and famous army.

What does the Elmer map show?

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