NameCensus.

UK surname

Grimmer

A surname referring to a grim or stern person, or someone living near a pond or ditch.

In the 1881 census there were 393 people recorded with the Grimmer surname, ranking it #8,068 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 854, ranked #6,557, up from #8,068 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alburgh, Martham and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Grimmer is 964 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 117.3%.

1881 census count

393

Ranked #8,068

Modern count

854

2016, ranked #6,557

Peak year

2000

964 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Grimmer had 393 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,068 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 854 in 2016, ranked #6,557.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 814 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Grimmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Grimmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Grimmer 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 313 #7,385
1861 historical 321 #7,938
1881 historical 393 #8,068
1891 historical 575 #6,620
1901 historical 724 #6,116
1911 historical 814 #5,405
1997 modern 941 #5,762
1998 modern 953 #5,884
1999 modern 955 #5,924
2000 modern 964 #5,859
2001 modern 947 #5,837
2002 modern 941 #5,977
2003 modern 893 #6,124
2004 modern 882 #6,197
2005 modern 860 #6,252
2006 modern 865 #6,232
2007 modern 871 #6,253
2008 modern 888 #6,191
2009 modern 906 #6,233
2010 modern 905 #6,357
2011 modern 887 #6,382
2012 modern 853 #6,513
2013 modern 877 #6,483
2014 modern 863 #6,590
2015 modern 856 #6,564
2016 modern 854 #6,557

Geography

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Where Grimmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alburgh, Martham, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John, Rotherham 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 North Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Sheffield. 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 Alburgh Norfolk
2 Martham Norfolk
3 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
4 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
2 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth
3 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
4 Sheffield 003 Sheffield
5 Great Yarmouth 002 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Grimmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Grimmer

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

Grimmer is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Grimmer

The surname Grimmer has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "grim," meaning fierce or severe, potentially referring to a person with a stern or grim demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Grimmer can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals by their surnames for tax purposes. The name appeared as "Grym" in these records, suggesting its early spelling variations.

During the medieval period, the name Grimmer was concentrated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. It may have been associated with certain place names, such as Grimston or Grimshoe, although the direct connections are uncertain.

In the 16th century, notable individuals bearing the surname Grimmer included Thomas Grimmer (c. 1500-1560), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and the Bishop of Bristol. Another notable figure was Edward Grimmer (c. 1570-1636), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth.

The 17th century saw the emergence of Robert Grimmer (1600-1670), an English politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Ipswich. During the same period, John Grimmer (1618-1690) gained recognition as an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

In the 18th century, William Grimmer (1705-1783) was a prominent English lawyer and Member of Parliament for St. Albans. He played a significant role in the debates surrounding the American Revolution and the rights of British colonists.

As the surname Grimmer spread across England, it encountered various spelling variations, such as Grymmer, Grimer, and Grimmer, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and pronunciation at the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Grimmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Grimmer 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. Norfolk leads with 234 Grimmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.52x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 234 40.52x
Suffolk 53 11.59x
Middlesex 18 0.48x
Lancashire 17 0.38x
Kent 15 1.17x
Lincolnshire 15 2.50x
Essex 8 1.08x
Surrey 6 0.33x
Yorkshire 5 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.26x
Midlothian 3 0.60x
Channel Islands 2 1.80x
Hampshire 2 0.26x
Somerset 2 0.33x
Warwickshire 2 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 60 Grimmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.44x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 60 125.44x
Alburgh 19 2375.00x
Martham 14 992.91x
West Derby 13 9.97x
Aldeby 11 1325.30x
Ditchingham 11 797.10x
East Ruston 11 1279.07x
Belton 10 1250.00x
Bethnal Green London 9 5.52x
Burgh St Margaret 9 1267.61x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 9 104.90x
Kirkley 8 208.88x
Costessey 7 564.52x
Mundham 7 1842.11x
Ashill 6 714.29x
Beccles 6 81.52x
Dunton Cum Doughton 6 2727.27x
Sevenoaks 6 57.75x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 5 476.19x
Gedney 5 204.08x
Heigham 5 16.13x
Holbeach 5 74.74x
Norwich St John 5 961.54x
Oulton 5 322.58x
Shipdham 5 255.10x
Walsoken 5 144.09x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 11.92x
Burgh St Peter 4 851.06x
Croydon 4 3.94x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.05x
Ellingham 4 909.09x
Haddiscoe 4 784.31x
Hales 4 1176.47x
Plumstead 4 9.37x
St Martin Lincoln 4 71.81x
St Marylebone London 4 1.99x
Stokesby With Herringby 4 930.23x
Wheatacre All Sts 4 2105.26x
East Dereham 3 41.10x
Gisleham 3 769.23x
Harwich St Nicholas 3 52.36x
Mettingham 3 638.30x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 3 103.45x
Scarborough 3 8.87x
South Leith 3 5.30x
Upton With Fishley 3 434.78x
Wisbech St Peter 3 25.15x
Alverstoke 2 7.18x
Bungay Holy Trinity 2 85.11x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 16.37x
Chelsea London 2 1.77x
Cringleford 2 689.66x
Happisburgh 2 277.78x
Kimberworth 2 9.69x
Leyton Low 2 13.27x
Lowestoft 2 9.26x
Mancetter 2 73.53x
Neatishead 2 270.27x
Pakenham 2 162.60x
St Helier 2 5.52x
Thorpe Next Norwich 2 32.68x
West Walton 2 180.18x
Wighton 2 303.03x
Attleborough 1 34.25x
Cannington 1 55.56x
Catton 1 103.09x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.13x
Colchester St Botolph 1 15.85x
Corston 1 204.08x
East Ham 1 7.27x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 85.47x
Hempnall 1 88.50x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 1 99.01x
Kensington London 1 0.48x
Lambeth 1 0.31x
Southwark St Thomas 1 100.00x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.51x
St Maryle Wigford 1 21.41x
Woolwich 1 2.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 7
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Jane 5
Susan 4
Alice 3
Anna 3
Beatrice 3
Eleanor 3
Florence 3
Kate 3
Lydia 3
Nellie 3
Susannah 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Florance 2
Gertrude 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Maud 2
Rachel 2
Rosa 2
Susanna 2
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Effie 1
Elizbeth 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Jessie 1
Johanah 1
Josephine 1
Judith 1
Letitia 1
Lizzie 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 20
Robert 17
John 14
William 14
Charles 13
James 13
Frederick 9
Samuel 8
Benjamin 7
Henry 7
Albert 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Joseph 3
Robt. 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Edmund 2
Gilbert 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Austin 1
Benjamen 1
Chas 1
Christopher 1
Ed. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Gerald 1
Grantley 1
Harold 1
Infant 1
Jonathan 1
Maurice 1
Nathan 1
Noah 1
Rd. 1
Simon 1
Spenser 1
Tom 1
Wales 1
Wallis 1

FAQ

Grimmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Grimmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 393 people were recorded with the Grimmer surname. That placed it at #8,068 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Grimmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 854 in 2016. That gives Grimmer a modern rank of #6,557.

What does the Grimmer surname mean?

A surname referring to a grim or stern person, or someone living near a pond or ditch.

What does the Grimmer map show?

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