NameCensus.

UK surname

Imm

A locational surname likely derived from a place name in Germany or Switzerland.

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Imm surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 93, ranked #31,945, down from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, East Devon and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Imm is 110 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

93

2016, ranked #31,945

Peak year

2008

110 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2006

Key insights

  • Imm had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016, ranked #31,945.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 66 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Imm surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Imm surname density by area, 2006 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Imm 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 41 #25,926
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 107 #26,555
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 102 #30,415
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 98 #31,342
2016 modern 93 #31,945

Geography

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Where Imms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, East Devon, Hammersmith and Fulham and Torfaen. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
2 East Devon 005 East Devon
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 013 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
5 Torfaen 012 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Imm

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Imm

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Imm is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Imm is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Imm falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Imm

The surname IMM originates from Germany, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "immi," meaning honey or beehive. This connection suggests that the original bearers of this name may have been involved in beekeeping or honey production.

One of the earliest known records of the IMM surname can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Hesse, Germany. In this codex, a reference is made to a certain "Immo de Alsfeld" in the year 1279, suggesting that the name was already in use by that time.

In the 14th century, the IMM surname appears in the Schwabenspiegel, an important legal code of the Middle Ages. This document mentions an individual named "Heinrich Imm" from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, indicating that the name had spread to various parts of Germany.

During the Renaissance period, the IMM surname gained prominence with the birth of Johannes Imm (1492-1557), a German theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. He was a close associate of Martin Luther and contributed to the translation of the Bible into German.

Another notable figure bearing the IMM surname was Johann Georg Imm (1695-1768), a German architect and master builder. He was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and public buildings in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany.

In the 19th century, the IMM surname found its way to the United States through German immigration. One of the earliest recorded instances was Johann Imm (1815-1892), who settled in Pennsylvania and worked as a farmer.

The name also gained recognition in the field of science with the birth of Karl Imm (1876-1946), a German physicist and inventor. He made significant contributions to the development of radio technology and held numerous patents.

It is worth noting that the IMM surname has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Immenstadt, Immenreuth, and Immenhausen, further highlighting its geographical roots.

While the surname IMM may not be as widely known as some others, its rich history and diverse representation across various fields make it a fascinating subject of study for onomatologists and historians alike.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Imm families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Imm 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. Gloucestershire leads with 19 Imms recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.26x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 19 34.26x
Staffordshire 10 10.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lydney in Gloucestershire leads with 17 Imms recorded in 1881 and an index of 5862.07x.

Place Total Index
Lydney 17 5862.07x
Harborne 5 163.40x
Wolstanton Knutton 5 862.07x
Westbury On Trym 2 106.38x

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 Imm households.

FAQ

Imm surname: questions and answers

How common was the Imm surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Imm surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Imm surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016. That gives Imm a modern rank of #31,945.

What does the Imm surname mean?

A locational surname likely derived from a place name in Germany or Switzerland.

What does the Imm map show?

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