NameCensus.

UK surname

Gilmer

A Scottish and Irish surname derived from a place name meaning "reed pond" or "loch of reeds."

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Gilmer surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, down from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plumstead, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Forth, Braehead and Auchengray and Marchmont East and Sciennes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gilmer is 137 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.3%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2016

137 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Gilmer had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Gilmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Gilmer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Gilmer 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 53 #29,946
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 80 #24,821
1997 modern 106 #26,057
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 111 #26,091
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 111 #26,954
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 121 #26,789
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 131 #25,932
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Gilmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plumstead, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Marchmont East and Sciennes, Drumoyne and Shieldhall and Mendip. 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 Plumstead London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 010 Selby
2 Forth, Braehead and Auchengray South Lanarkshire
3 Marchmont East and Sciennes City of Edinburgh
4 Drumoyne and Shieldhall Glasgow City
5 Mendip 001 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Gilmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Gilmer

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Gilmer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Gilmer 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

Gilmer 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 Gilmer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Gilmer

The surname Gilmer is of English origin, deriving from the Old English given name Gilemar or Gylmyr, which was composed of the elements "gil" meaning "ravine" or "valley" and "mær" meaning "famous." This name was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England during the Middle Ages.

The earliest known record of the Gilmer name dates back to the 12th century, with mentions found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire and the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire. The name also appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were records of landowners in various counties.

In the 14th century, there are references to individuals bearing the Gilmer surname in various historical documents. One notable example is John Gilmer, a merchant from York, who was granted a license to trade in 1387.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Gilmer name was associated with several notable figures. Sir John Gilmer (1516-1585) was a renowned English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Baron of the Exchequer. Thomas Gilmer (1577-1638) was a prominent theologian and clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Essex.

The surname Gilmer also has connections to place names in England. The village of Gilmerton, located in the county of Leicestershire, is believed to have derived its name from the Gilmer family who once held lands there.

In the 18th century, George Gilmer (1700-1782) was a distinguished English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. Another notable figure from this period was Thomas Gilmer (1718-1788), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

Moving into the 19th century, John Gilmer (1805-1868) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 33rd Governor of Virginia. He was also a prominent figure in the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

These are just a few examples of individuals bearing the Gilmer surname who have left their mark on history. The name's origins can be traced back to the Old English language and its prevalence in northern England during the Middle Ages, with records spanning several centuries and connections to both notable figures and place names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Gilmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gilmer 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. Warwickshire leads with 17 Gilmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.64x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 17 8.64x
Lancashire 15 1.62x
Kent 8 3.00x
Lanarkshire 8 3.17x
Renfrewshire 5 8.27x
Middlesex 4 0.51x
Staffordshire 4 1.52x
Cheshire 3 1.74x
Hampshire 3 1.88x
Midlothian 3 2.87x
Worcestershire 3 2.94x
Northumberland 2 1.72x
Angus 1 1.38x
Cumberland 1 1.49x
Inverness-shire 1 4.29x
Kincardineshire 1 10.53x
Pembrokeshire 1 4.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 9 Gilmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.72x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 9 13.72x
Edgbaston 8 131.15x
Plumstead 8 90.19x
Entwistle 6 6666.67x
Govan 6 9.61x
Cathcart 5 152.91x
West Derby 5 18.46x
Wednesfield 4 103.09x
Dudley 3 24.21x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 7.13x
Portsea 3 9.57x
Tranmere 3 47.39x
Coxlodge 2 227.27x
Paddington London 2 6.97x
Banchory Ternan 1 121.95x
Glasgow 1 2.23x
Hubberston 1 277.78x
Ince In Makerfield 1 23.20x
Inverness 1 17.06x
Islington London 1 1.32x
Kirkdale 1 6.42x
Liverpool 1 1.78x
New Monkland 1 13.40x
St Vigeans 1 25.64x
Wavertree 1 33.78x
Westminster St John 1 10.53x
Workington 1 25.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emily 3
Mary 3
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Agnis 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Blanche 1
Bruce 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Isabella 1
May 1
Nancy 1
Olive 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
John 5
Hugh 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Eanest 1
Edward 1
Emile 1
Henry 1
Julian 1
Louis 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Victor 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Gilmer households.

FAQ

Gilmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Gilmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Gilmer surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Gilmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Gilmer a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Gilmer surname mean?

A Scottish and Irish surname derived from a place name meaning "reed pond" or "loch of reeds."

What does the Gilmer map show?

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