UK surname
An occupational surname for a clerk, scribe, or notary responsible for writing and record-keeping.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Grammer surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 73, ranked #33,502, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Pancras and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grammer is 122 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.2%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
73
2016, ranked #33,502
Peak year
1911
122 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Grammer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Grammer surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 49 | #24,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 72 | #24,643 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 119 | #21,415 |
| 1901 | historical | 110 | #21,604 |
| 1911 | historical | 122 | #20,245 |
| 1997 | modern | 89 | #28,490 |
| 1998 | modern | 93 | #28,563 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 86 | #29,771 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 82 | #30,617 |
| 2006 | modern | 79 | #31,263 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 80 | #31,833 |
| 2009 | modern | 95 | #30,393 |
| 2010 | modern | 93 | #31,239 |
| 2011 | modern | 88 | #31,801 |
| 2012 | modern | 82 | #32,701 |
| 2013 | modern | 83 | #32,813 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 73 | #33,502 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Pancras, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Peterborough St John the Baptist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Peterborough St John the Baptist | Northamptonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Grammer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Grammer, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Grammer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Grammer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Grammer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Grammer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Grammer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Grammer originated in Germany and can be traced back to the 14th century. It is derived from the Old German word "gram," which means "angry" or "irritable." The name may have been used as a nickname for someone with a quick temper or an irascible personality.
In its earliest form, the name was spelled "Grammer" or "Gramer." It is also related to the German word "Gramm," meaning "sorrow" or "grief." This suggests that the name could have been given to someone who was prone to melancholy or sadness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where a certain Johann Grammer was mentioned in a document dating back to 1387. Another early reference is from the city of Nuremberg, where a Hans Grammer was listed in a tax record from 1429.
In the 16th century, the name appears in various records across Germany, including the town of Augsburg, where a family by the name of Grammer resided. One notable figure from this period was Martin Grammer, a Lutheran theologian and reformer who was born in Nuremberg in 1508 and died in 1585.
As the name spread across Europe, it underwent some spelling variations, such as "Gramer," "Gramere," and "Graymer." In England, the name is believed to have been introduced by German immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in England is that of Johann Grammer, a German-born merchant who settled in London in the late 17th century. Another notable figure was William Grammer, a British soldier and explorer who was born in 1784 and served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.
Other historically significant individuals with the surname Grammer include Johann Grammer (1760-1829), a German composer and organist, and Friedrich Grammer (1801-1868), a German painter and lithographer. In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name is that of Jacob Grammer, a German immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania in the mid-18th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grammer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 26 Grammers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 26 | 3.46x |
| Northamptonshire | 11 | 15.57x |
| Nottinghamshire | 8 | 7.90x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 5.47x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 2.41x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 2.60x |
| Hertfordshire | 4 | 7.73x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.45x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.54x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.70x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.78x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.06x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.68x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hornsey in Middlesex leads with 8 Grammers recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.21x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hornsey | 8 | 84.21x |
| Paddington London | 8 | 28.96x |
| Castor | 7 | 2333.33x |
| Aldeburgh | 5 | 925.93x |
| Islington London | 5 | 6.87x |
| Ardwick | 4 | 49.75x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 4 | 57.72x |
| Chipping Barnet | 4 | 439.56x |
| Doddleston | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Newborough | 4 | 2222.22x |
| Portsea | 4 | 13.26x |
| Calverton | 3 | 937.50x |
| Langford | 3 | 7500.00x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 11.28x |
| Deptford St Paul | 2 | 10.12x |
| Derby St Werburgh | 2 | 29.46x |
| Middleton | 2 | 1666.67x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 3.31x |
| Chilwell | 1 | 370.37x |
| Clifton | 1 | 13.42x |
| Norwood | 1 | 58.14x |
| Radcliffe On Trent | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Grammer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Grammer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Grammer households.
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Grammer surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 73 in 2016. That gives Grammer a modern rank of #33,502.
An occupational surname for a clerk, scribe, or notary responsible for writing and record-keeping.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Grammer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.