NameCensus.

UK surname

Hamer

An English occupational surname referring to someone who makes or uses hammers.

In the 1881 census there were 5,605 people recorded with the Hamer surname, ranking it #791 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,144, ranked #1,103, down from #791 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Rochdale and Bury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Shropshire and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hamer is 7,466 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.6%.

1881 census count

5,605

Ranked #791

Modern count

6,144

2016, ranked #1,103

Peak year

1911

7,466 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hamer had 5,605 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #791 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,144 in 2016, ranked #1,103.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,466 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hamer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hamer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hamer 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 3,348 #860
1861 historical 3,312 #862
1881 historical 5,605 #791
1891 historical 5,472 #859
1901 historical 6,781 #815
1911 historical 7,466 #694
1997 modern 6,292 #1,045
1998 modern 6,477 #1,054
1999 modern 6,584 #1,048
2000 modern 6,636 #1,027
2001 modern 6,480 #1,028
2002 modern 6,586 #1,036
2003 modern 6,400 #1,045
2004 modern 6,305 #1,058
2005 modern 6,131 #1,071
2006 modern 6,140 #1,070
2007 modern 6,142 #1,073
2008 modern 6,164 #1,074
2009 modern 6,302 #1,074
2010 modern 6,444 #1,076
2011 modern 6,280 #1,092
2012 modern 6,089 #1,102
2013 modern 6,210 #1,100
2014 modern 6,196 #1,108
2015 modern 6,164 #1,102
2016 modern 6,144 #1,103

Geography

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Where Hamers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Rochdale, Bury, Llanidloes and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Shropshire and Bolton. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Bury Lancashire
4 Llanidloes Montgomeryshire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 010 Powys
2 Shropshire 030 Shropshire
3 Powys 007 Powys
4 Bolton 017 Bolton
5 Shropshire 026 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hamer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hamer

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

Hamer is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hamer falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hamer

The surname Hamer originated in England and is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "hamor," which means "hammer." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a blacksmith or metal worker, using a hammer as their primary tool.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Hamer can be traced back to the late 12th century in various English records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1190, which mentioned a person named William le Hamer. Other early spellings of the name included Hamar, Hamere, and Hamor.

In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, there is a reference to a John le Hamer, indicating the widespread use of the name across different regions of England during the Middle Ages. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also listed a Robert le Hamer, suggesting the name's presence in the West Midlands area.

One notable historical figure with the surname Hamer was Sir Thomas Hamer (c. 1508-1589), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1567. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and played a significant role in the city's governance during the Elizabethan era.

Another individual of note was John Hamer (1542-1614), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of St Asaph from 1605 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the early 17th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Hamer was also found in various place names across England, such as Hamer in Staffordshire and Hamer Hill in Surrey, further indicating the name's widespread usage and potential connection to specific localities.

During the 17th century, several members of the Hamer family were involved in the English Civil War, with some supporting the Parliamentarian cause and others fighting for the Royalists. One notable example was Colonel Thomas Hamer (c. 1610-1662), a Royalist officer who played a role in the defense of Hereford during the conflict.

In the literary world, the surname Hamer is associated with Sir William Hamer (1677-1743), an English playwright and author best known for his comedic plays "The Lover's Opera" and "The Rover; or, The Double Disguise."

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname Hamer throughout history, reflecting the name's long-standing presence and significance in various contexts across England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hamer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hamer 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. Lancashire leads with 3,241 Hamers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,241 4.99x
Yorkshire 501 0.92x
Montgomeryshire 456 36.38x
Radnorshire 328 74.31x
Shropshire 163 3.45x
Cheshire 156 1.29x
Middlesex 108 0.20x
Glamorgan 74 0.78x
Brecknockshire 58 5.30x
Staffordshire 50 0.27x
Surrey 44 0.17x
Monmouthshire 42 1.06x
Cardiganshire 41 3.07x
Herefordshire 30 1.34x
Warwickshire 30 0.22x
Kent 29 0.16x
Derbyshire 25 0.29x
Denbighshire 22 1.06x
Gloucestershire 22 0.21x
Durham 20 0.12x
Leicestershire 20 0.33x
Worcestershire 20 0.28x
Devon 16 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 14 0.63x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.19x
Essex 11 0.10x
Dorset 9 0.25x
Lincolnshire 9 0.10x
Lanarkshire 8 0.05x
Northamptonshire 8 0.16x
Merionethshire 7 0.70x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.55x
Flintshire 5 0.34x
Hertfordshire 3 0.08x
Northumberland 3 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.17x
Sussex 3 0.03x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.06x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.09x
Somerset 2 0.02x
Bedfordshire 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Cumberland 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tottington Lower End in Lancashire leads with 236 Hamers recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.51x.

Place Total Index
Tottington Lower End 236 76.51x
Bury 208 28.05x
Little Bolton 198 23.72x
Great Bolton 148 17.21x
Elton 128 57.07x
Newchurch 117 22.03x
Oldham 108 5.15x
Spotland 100 13.86x
Llanidloes 96 103.31x
Halliwell 86 36.40x
Harwood 86 253.61x
Radcliffe 84 26.84x
Salford 77 4.03x
Heap 74 21.49x
Preston 72 4.15x
Walmersley Cum 72 69.42x
Pendleton In Salford 68 8.79x
Turton 65 61.15x
Hulme 62 4.57x
Llandinam 58 200.07x
Castleton 55 8.48x
Blackburn 51 2.95x
Tonge With Haulgh 51 40.36x
Rhayader 49 293.94x
Ashton Under Lyne 47 3.31x
Haslingden 47 17.49x
Kerry 46 122.02x
Nantmel 44 190.39x
Bradshaw 43 303.67x
Cwmdauddwr 38 266.29x
Newtown 37 46.15x
Stainland Cum Old 37 39.88x
Llanllwchaiarn 36 66.29x
Elland Cum Greetland 34 13.92x
Stockport 33 5.31x
Manchester 31 1.06x
Dukinfield 30 5.38x
Halifax 30 3.77x
Tref Eglwys 30 87.75x
Llangurig 29 96.31x
Barton Upon Irwell 27 5.53x
North Meols 27 4.25x
Tottington Higher End 27 36.54x
Rumworth 25 26.95x
Huddersfield 24 3.04x
Sharples 24 34.09x
Bedwellty 22 3.15x
Blatchinworth 22 14.89x
Rishworth 22 105.77x
Skircoat 22 10.29x
Toxteth Park 22 1.00x
Almondbury 21 8.01x
Barkisland 21 53.35x
Macclesfield 21 3.91x
Horwich 20 28.25x
Merthyr Tydfil 20 2.18x
Wardleworth 20 5.39x
Ainsworth 19 75.61x
Gorton 19 3.11x
St Pancras London 19 0.43x
Atherton 18 7.62x
Burnley 18 3.29x
Dalton In Huddersfield 18 14.82x
Disserth Trecoed 18 187.30x
Golcar 18 12.56x
Pool 18 19.04x
Breightmet 17 59.52x
Cilcennin 17 179.70x
Farnworth 17 4.37x
Islington London 17 0.32x
Kearsley 17 12.45x
Liverpool 17 0.43x
Lower Booths 17 14.62x
St Harmon Cennarth 17 197.44x
Builth 16 58.72x
Dewsbury 16 2.88x
Habergham Eaves 16 2.70x
Hopwood 16 18.85x
Llanbadarn Fawr 16 139.86x
Llanbister 16 104.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 473
Sarah 276
Elizabeth 254
Alice 183
Ann 121
Jane 115
Margaret 115
Ellen 86
Martha 78
Hannah 70
Eliza 51
Annie 50
Emma 46
Emily 38
Betty 34
Harriet 32
Betsy 31
Edith 30
Ada 28
Maria 27
Isabella 24
Catherine 23
Florence 21
Rachel 21
Fanny 20
Nancy 20
Esther 19
Louisa 19
Clara 16
Elizth. 16
Anne 14
Caroline 13
Ruth 12
Agnes 11
Amelia 11
Frances 11
Lucy 11
Susannah 11
Bertha 10
Margt. 10
Matilda 10
Susan 10
Minnie 9
Charlotte 8
Eleanor 8
Lily 8
Lilly 7
Margret 7
Selina 7
Lydia 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 436
James 261
William 260
Thomas 239
Joseph 102
Richard 89
Henry 87
Samuel 86
George 74
Edward 70
David 62
Robert 58
Alfred 43
Charles 43
Walter 32
Albert 31
Arthur 31
Daniel 29
Abraham 27
Harry 26
Edwin 23
Benjamin 22
Frank 22
Frederick 21
Herbert 20
Peter 20
Wm. 16
Fred 15
Thos. 15
Andrew 14
Ernest 12
Evan 11
Jonathan 11
Richd. 11
Edwd. 8
Robt. 8
Francis 7
Ellis 6
Jas. 6
Jno. 6
Squire 6
Lewis 5
Price 5
Pryce 5
Tom 5
Isaac 4
Jesse 4
Joe 4
Levi 4
Meredith 4

FAQ

Hamer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hamer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,605 people were recorded with the Hamer surname. That placed it at #791 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hamer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,144 in 2016. That gives Hamer a modern rank of #1,103.

What does the Hamer surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who makes or uses hammers.

What does the Hamer map show?

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