NameCensus.

UK surname

Inger

A surname derived from place names containing the word "inghir" meaning pastures or meadows.

In the 1881 census there were 156 people recorded with the Inger surname, ranking it #15,114 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 321, ranked #14,065, up from #15,114 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, Burton-on-Trent and Eastwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Nottingham, Gedling and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Inger is 357 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.8%.

1881 census count

156

Ranked #15,114

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

2002

357 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Inger had 156 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,114 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 287 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Inger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Inger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Inger 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 156 #15,114
1891 historical 212 #14,318
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 339 #12,464
1998 modern 338 #12,829
1999 modern 338 #12,922
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 357 #12,424
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 326 #13,045
2006 modern 327 #13,092
2007 modern 336 #12,975
2008 modern 344 #12,874
2009 modern 340 #13,244
2010 modern 333 #13,717
2011 modern 326 #13,775
2012 modern 318 #13,926
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 326 #14,006
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Ingers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basford, Burton-on-Trent, Eastwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Nottingham, Gedling, Rossendale and East Staffordshire. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 Eastwood Nottinghamshire
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Nottingham 011 Nottingham
2 Nottingham 005 Nottingham
3 Gedling 002 Gedling
4 Rossendale 009 Rossendale
5 East Staffordshire 009 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Inger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Inger

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Inger, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Inger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Inger household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Inger 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.

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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

Inger 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

Inger 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 Inger is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Inger

The surname "INGER" is of German origin, derived from the Old German word "ingaro," meaning "spear-thrower" or "javelin-thrower." The name can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when it was commonly found in various regions of present-day Germany.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "INGER" can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the state of Saxony, dating back to the 12th century. The name is mentioned in connection with various landholdings and property transactions.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname "INGER" began to spread across other parts of Germany, particularly in the regions of Bavaria and Franconia. It is believed that some members of the family may have been involved in military service or served as protectors of local nobility, which could explain the name's association with spear-throwing.

In the 15th century, the surname "INGER" appeared in various town records and municipal archives, indicating the family's presence in urban centers. One notable figure from this period was Hans INGER (c. 1420-1490), a prosperous merchant and landowner in the city of Nuremberg.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "INGER" continued to be found across Germany, with various branches of the family settling in different regions. In the 18th century, Johann INGER (1717-1788) was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from the town of Augsburg, known for his innovative designs and contributions to the field of horology.

Another notable figure was Wilhelm INGER (1835-1912), a German historian and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of the Rhineland region. His works provided valuable insights into the lives and traditions of the people living in this area during the 19th century.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, several individuals with the surname "INGER" made their mark in various fields, such as science, education, and the arts. One such figure was Karl INGER (1867-1942), a respected biologist and naturalist who specialized in the study of insects and their habitats.

It is worth noting that the surname "INGER" has also been found in other parts of Europe, including Scandinavia and the Netherlands, where it may have been adopted by families with German ancestry or connections.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Inger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Inger 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 78 Ingers recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.03x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 78 38.03x
Derbyshire 48 20.15x
Yorkshire 9 0.60x
Leicestershire 7 4.15x
Lancashire 6 0.33x
Staffordshire 4 0.78x
Cheshire 2 0.60x
Durham 2 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 32 Ingers recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.32x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 32 60.32x
Heanor 26 730.34x
Nuthall 13 1688.31x
Snenton 11 136.48x
Eastwood 9 491.80x
Basford 8 84.66x
Bradford 8 21.91x
Derby St Werburgh 8 58.14x
Whitwick 6 279.07x
Cheetham 5 37.12x
Burton Upon Trent 4 33.28x
Litchurch 4 41.71x
Ockbrook 4 396.04x
Chesterfield 3 33.59x
Nottingham St Nicholas 3 107.53x
Alfreton 2 27.62x
Lenton 2 41.41x
Stockton On Tees 2 9.17x
Tranmere 2 16.19x
Hasland 1 41.15x
Prestwold Hoton 1 625.00x
Settrington 1 344.83x
Toxteth Park 1 1.64x

FAQ

Inger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Inger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 156 people were recorded with the Inger surname. That placed it at #15,114 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Inger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Inger a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Inger surname mean?

A surname derived from place names containing the word "inghir" meaning pastures or meadows.

What does the Inger map show?

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