NameCensus.

UK surname

Geer

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made or used spears, derived from the Old English "gār".

In the 1881 census there were 341 people recorded with the Geer surname, ranking it #8,918 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 478, ranked #10,329, down from #8,918 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington and East Grinstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Copeland and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Geer is 512 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.2%.

1881 census count

341

Ranked #8,918

Modern count

478

2016, ranked #10,329

Peak year

2002

512 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Geer had 341 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,918 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 478 in 2016, ranked #10,329.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Geer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Geer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Geer 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 278 #8,089
1861 historical 277 #9,025
1881 historical 341 #8,918
1891 historical 364 #9,538
1901 historical 445 #8,782
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 481 #9,584
1998 modern 507 #9,486
1999 modern 490 #9,811
2000 modern 505 #9,561
2001 modern 486 #9,674
2002 modern 512 #9,470
2003 modern 490 #9,631
2004 modern 485 #9,716
2005 modern 485 #9,647
2006 modern 475 #9,848
2007 modern 484 #9,796
2008 modern 490 #9,794
2009 modern 473 #10,269
2010 modern 480 #10,353
2011 modern 492 #10,072
2012 modern 471 #10,313
2013 modern 478 #10,362
2014 modern 480 #10,405
2015 modern 483 #10,264
2016 modern 478 #10,329

Geography

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Where Geers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington, East Grinstead, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Copeland, Tunbridge Wells and Medway. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Jevington, Folkington, Wilmington Sussex
3 East Grinstead Sussex
4 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 010 Sevenoaks
2 Copeland 008 Copeland
3 Tunbridge Wells 010 Tunbridge Wells
4 Medway 002 Medway
5 Sevenoaks 012 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Geer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Geer

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Geer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Geer is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Geer 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 Geer 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 Geer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Geer

The surname Geer has its origins in the Low Countries, specifically in the regions of present-day Belgium and the Netherlands. It is believed to have emerged in the late Middle Ages, around the 13th or 14th century.

One theory suggests that the name Geer is derived from the Old Dutch word "ghere," which means "spear" or "javelin." This could indicate that the original bearers of this surname may have been soldiers, hunters, or individuals associated with weapons or warfare.

Another possibility is that the name Geer is related to the Dutch word "geer," which refers to a triangular piece of land or a wedge-shaped field. This could suggest that the name was initially used to identify someone who lived near or owned such a triangular plot of land.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Geer can be traced back to the 14th century in various Dutch and Flemish records. For example, a man named Jan Gheer was mentioned in a document from the city of Bruges in 1375.

In the 15th century, the surname Geer appears in the records of the Duchy of Brabant, which was part of the Low Countries at that time. A notable figure from this period was Hendrik Geer (c. 1440-1510), a wealthy merchant and alderman from the city of Antwerp.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Geer spread to other parts of Europe, particularly to Germany and England, as a result of migration and trade. One notable Englishman with this surname was Sir Edward Geer (1570-1648), a successful merchant and philanthropist from London.

In the 18th century, the Geer surname gained recognition in the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances was Gerrit Geer, who was born in New York in 1725 and served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Another significant figure was Ambrose Geer (1783-1869), an American inventor and industrialist from Connecticut. He is credited with developing the first successful water-proof hat, which became widely popular in the early 19th century.

The 19th century saw the surname Geer flourish in various parts of Europe and North America. One notable bearer was Edmond Geer (1849-1923), a Belgian artist and painter who was known for his landscapes and genre scenes depicting rural life in Flanders.

In the literary world, Cornelia Geer (1875-1966) was an American writer and poet who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature, love, and spirituality.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Geer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Geer 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. Kent leads with 118 Geers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.37x.

County Total Index
Kent 118 10.37x
Sussex 100 17.78x
Middlesex 38 1.14x
Surrey 33 2.03x
Hampshire 21 3.07x
Cumberland 6 2.09x
Dorset 5 2.28x
Essex 5 0.76x
Lancashire 5 0.13x
Bedfordshire 3 1.74x
Wiltshire 3 1.02x
Devon 2 0.29x
Brecknockshire 1 1.50x
Northumberland 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 2.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 27 Geers recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.77x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 27 65.77x
East Grinstead 14 175.88x
Sevenoaks 14 151.68x
Hurstpierpoint 11 351.44x
Islington London 11 3.40x
Hunton 10 1000.00x
Hollington 9 450.00x
Battersea 8 6.52x
Kingston 8 833.33x
Lewisham 8 13.18x
Newhaven 8 175.05x
Plumstead 8 21.09x
St George Hanover Square 8 13.61x
Withyam 8 331.95x
Arlington 7 1044.78x
Bearsted 7 1014.49x
Lambeth 7 2.41x
Shoreditch London 7 4.84x
Southampton Holy Rood 7 1014.49x
Beckenham 6 40.32x
Camberwell 6 2.82x
Chatham 6 19.16x
Chevening 6 483.87x
Littlehampton 6 133.63x
Charlwood 5 320.51x
Cleator 5 41.84x
Keymer 5 125.94x
Parr 5 35.31x
Swanscombe 5 97.85x
Willingdon 5 349.65x
Woodford St Mary 5 675.68x
Botley 4 325.20x
Brighton 4 3.53x
Hornsey 4 9.48x
Nuthurst 4 430.11x
Sundridge 4 210.53x
Berwick St John 3 681.82x
Charterhouse London 3 191.08x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.81x
Lidsing 3 7500.00x
Luton 3 10.03x
Maidstone 3 8.85x
Stone In Dartford 3 102.74x
Wimborne 3 113.21x
Croydon 2 2.22x
Eastbourne 2 7.73x
Horsham 2 18.30x
Kingston Near Lewes 2 1428.57x
Lingfield 2 63.09x
Mereworth 2 217.39x
Plumpton 2 377.36x
Preston 2 20.37x
Allington 1 588.24x
Bexhill 1 35.71x
Broadwater 1 7.75x
Caterham 1 13.93x
Corfe Mullen 1 126.58x
Greenwich 1 1.88x
Hailsham 1 29.41x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 24.10x
Hastings St Clement 1 18.90x
Hinton Martel 1 227.27x
Kensington London 1 0.54x
Llanwrtyd 1 103.09x
Milton In Gravesend 1 5.86x
Newington 1 0.81x
North Shields 1 10.10x
Preston Quarter 1 12.42x
Reigate Foreign 1 5.68x
Rotherfield 1 20.20x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.33x
St Faith Winchester 1 31.35x
St Pancras London 1 0.37x
Subdeanery 1 23.42x
Tavistock 1 12.64x
Tawstock 1 81.30x
West Wickham 1 90.91x
Winchelsea St Thomas 1 142.86x
Woolwich 1 2.38x
Worth 1 24.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 15
James 14
John 14
Thomas 14
Charles 9
Frank 9
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Henry 7
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Joseph 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
David 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Harry 2
Jesse 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Benjn. 1
Caleb 1
Colin 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Happy 1
Hedley 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Job 1
Lanard 1
Luke 1
Moses 1
Nehemiah 1
Nelson 1
Owen 1
Partiona 1
Ralph 1
Richd.John 1
Salem 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Geer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Geer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 341 people were recorded with the Geer surname. That placed it at #8,918 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Geer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 478 in 2016. That gives Geer a modern rank of #10,329.

What does the Geer surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made or used spears, derived from the Old English "gār".

What does the Geer map show?

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