NameCensus.

UK surname

Imeson

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name "Imo", a diminutive of the Germanic name "Immo".

In the 1881 census there were 281 people recorded with the Imeson surname, ranking it #10,175 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 345, ranked #13,321, down from #10,175 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Malzeard, Masham and Darlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Harrogate and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Imeson is 433 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.8%.

1881 census count

281

Ranked #10,175

Modern count

345

2016, ranked #13,321

Peak year

1911

433 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Imeson had 281 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,175 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016, ranked #13,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 433 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Imeson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Imeson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Imeson 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 166 #14,039
1881 historical 281 #10,175
1891 historical 327 #10,379
1901 historical 393 #9,606
1911 historical 433 #8,762
1997 modern 343 #12,349
1998 modern 371 #12,027
1999 modern 369 #12,147
2000 modern 357 #12,380
2001 modern 360 #12,127
2002 modern 371 #12,096
2003 modern 346 #12,511
2004 modern 338 #12,781
2005 modern 334 #12,818
2006 modern 315 #13,440
2007 modern 319 #13,474
2008 modern 320 #13,550
2009 modern 323 #13,720
2010 modern 336 #13,613
2011 modern 338 #13,435
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 339 #13,477
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 345 #13,321

Geography

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Where Imesons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Malzeard, Masham, Darlington, London parishes and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Harrogate, Sunderland, Northumberland and Scarborough. 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 Kirkby Malzeard Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Masham Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Darlington Durham
4 London parishes London 3
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 006 Hambleton
2 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
3 Sunderland 024 Sunderland
4 Northumberland 005 Northumberland
5 Scarborough 014 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Imeson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Imeson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Imeson 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

Imeson is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Imeson falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Imeson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Imeson

The surname Imeson is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "iman," meaning "to shear or cut," and was likely an occupational surname given to a wool shearer or cloth cropper.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Lancashire Inquests, Extents, and Feudal Aids from 1310-1333, where a Robert Imeson is mentioned as holding land in the area. The name also appears in various other historical records from the region, including the Lancashire Wills and Inventories from 1548-1625, which mentions a John Imeson.

In the 16th century, the name was often spelled with variations such as "Imason," "Imayson," or "Imeson." These variations were likely due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that time period. The name's association with the wool trade is further reinforced by its presence in areas known for their textile industries, such as the Yorkshire town of Bradford.

One notable individual with the surname Imeson was Sir John Imeson, a 17th-century English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of York in 1675. Another was William Imeson, a 19th-century English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in the Yorkshire region, including Ashworth House in Bradford, which was completed in 1848.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Imeson family settled in the North American colonies, with records showing an Edward Imeson arriving in Virginia in 1718. Later, during the American Revolutionary War, a soldier named Joseph Imeson fought in the Continental Army and was present at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.

Another notable figure was George Imeson, a 19th-century English painter and illustrator known for his landscapes and scenes of rural life. He was born in 1835 and exhibited his works at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions throughout his career.

While the Imeson surname is not among the most common in England or the United States, it has a rich history rooted in the textile industry and can be traced back to the medieval period in northern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Imeson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Imeson 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. Yorkshire leads with 197 Imesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.25x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 197 7.25x
Durham 21 2.58x
Surrey 18 1.35x
Middlesex 15 0.55x
Lancashire 8 0.25x
Warwickshire 7 1.01x
Sussex 5 1.08x
Hampshire 4 0.71x
Northumberland 4 0.98x
Leicestershire 2 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middlesbrough in Yorkshire leads with 14 Imesons recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.58x.

Place Total Index
Middlesbrough 14 39.58x
Bradford 11 16.73x
Masham 11 1100.00x
Hammersmith London 10 14.81x
Ripon 10 158.73x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 9 891.09x
Grewelthorpe 8 1666.67x
Lambeth 8 3.35x
York St Saviour 8 308.88x
Morton On Swale 7 2692.31x
Preston 7 8.04x
Skelton In Guisbrough 7 95.24x
Battersea 6 5.95x
Eldmire With Crakehill 6 8571.43x
North Dalton 6 1304.35x
Norton Le Clay 6 6666.67x
Seaton Carew 6 365.85x
Birmingham 5 2.17x
Burton Leonard 5 1250.00x
Darlington 5 15.88x
Haworth 5 77.40x
Leeds 5 3.26x
Azerley 4 615.38x
Camberwell 4 2.28x
Fearby 4 1904.76x
Healey With Sutton 4 1739.13x
Middleton On Wolds 4 666.67x
Stockton On Tees 4 10.18x
Thruscross 4 1333.33x
Weetslade 4 563.38x
Burneston 3 1250.00x
Hanwell 3 61.73x
Hastings Holy Trinity 3 87.98x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 17.15x
Knaresborough 3 70.26x
Lymington 3 72.64x
Soothill 3 30.58x
Sowerby In Thirsk 3 182.93x
Swinton With 3 2142.86x
Thurstonland 3 319.15x
Topcliffe 3 517.24x
West Tanfield 3 576.92x
Wooldale 3 65.08x
Bowling 2 7.43x
Easingwold 2 104.17x
East Tanfield 2 5000.00x
Hastings St Leonards 2 29.46x
Kenilworth 2 51.28x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.70x
Roecliffe 2 869.57x
West Auckland 2 67.11x
York St Lawrence 2 70.67x
Aldershot 1 5.31x
Askrigg 1 169.49x
Austonley 1 64.94x
Barnard Castle 1 24.81x
Batley 1 3.87x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 10.76x
Burton On Ure 1 714.29x
Clifton Upon Ure 1 1666.67x
Crook Billy Row 1 9.58x
Deighton In York 1 555.56x
Dewsbury 1 3.59x
Eston 1 16.89x
Gorton 1 3.27x
Hornsea 1 58.14x
Huddersfield 1 2.53x
Hunslet 1 2.36x
Hutton Rudby 1 123.46x
Islington London 1 0.38x
Kirklington With 1 434.78x
Laverton 1 344.83x
Monk Hesleden 1 44.05x
Sharow 1 277.78x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.07x
Stokesley 1 59.17x
Thornaby 1 9.85x
Willerby In Scarborough 1 256.41x
Windlestone 1 434.78x

FAQ

Imeson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Imeson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 281 people were recorded with the Imeson surname. That placed it at #10,175 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Imeson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016. That gives Imeson a modern rank of #13,321.

What does the Imeson surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name "Imo", a diminutive of the Germanic name "Immo".

What does the Imeson map show?

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