NameCensus.

UK surname

Ironmonger

A surname derived from an occupation involving the trade or selling of iron goods and hardware.

In the 1881 census there were 543 people recorded with the Ironmonger surname, ranking it #6,354 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 540, ranked #9,422, down from #6,354 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Kirkby, East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, East Lindsey and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ironmonger is 745 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.6%.

1881 census count

543

Ranked #6,354

Modern count

540

2016, ranked #9,422

Peak year

1911

745 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ironmonger had 543 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,354 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016, ranked #9,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 745 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ironmonger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ironmonger surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ironmonger 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 392 #6,129
1861 historical 371 #6,875
1881 historical 543 #6,354
1891 historical 568 #6,687
1901 historical 635 #6,762
1911 historical 745 #5,765
1997 modern 546 #8,712
1998 modern 573 #8,643
1999 modern 581 #8,622
2000 modern 557 #8,860
2001 modern 539 #8,936
2002 modern 553 #8,949
2003 modern 563 #8,691
2004 modern 561 #8,736
2005 modern 546 #8,827
2006 modern 537 #8,983
2007 modern 540 #9,015
2008 modern 535 #9,155
2009 modern 563 #8,999
2010 modern 582 #8,978
2011 modern 557 #9,170
2012 modern 534 #9,391
2013 modern 540 #9,483
2014 modern 533 #9,627
2015 modern 537 #9,505
2016 modern 540 #9,422

Geography

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Where Ironmongers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Kirkby, East, London parishes, St Werburgh and St Leonard Bromley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, East Lindsey, Redcar and Cleveland, Cheshire West and Chester and South Kesteven. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Kirkby, East Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 St Leonard Bromley London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 002 North East Lincolnshire
2 East Lindsey 005 East Lindsey
3 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Cheshire West and Chester 046 Cheshire West and Chester
5 South Kesteven 003 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ironmonger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ironmonger

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

Ironmonger 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

Ironmonger 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 Ironmonger is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ironmonger

The surname Ironmonger is an English occupational name that originated in the Middle Ages. It refers to a person who was a merchant or dealer of ironmongery, which includes items made of iron such as nails, tools, and other hardware. The name is derived from the Old English words "iren" (iron) and "mangere" (merchant or trader).

The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to the late 12th century in England. One of the earliest known references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1194, which mentions a person named Richard le Ironmongere. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of 1201, which list a William Ironmonger.

The Ironmonger surname was particularly common in London and other major cities where ironmongers plied their trade. In the 14th century, the Ironmongers' Company was established in London, one of the oldest surviving livery companies in the city. This guild played a significant role in regulating the ironmongery trade and promoting the interests of its members.

Notable individuals with the surname Ironmonger include Sir John Ironmonger (c. 1554-1624), a wealthy London merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1614-1615. Another prominent figure was Thomas Ironmonger (c. 1585-1636), a successful merchant and member of the East India Company who served as the governor of the company's factory in Bantam (modern-day Indonesia) in the early 17th century.

In the literary world, the surname is associated with Thomas Ironmonger (1670-1736), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The History and Antiquities of Lambeth Parish" published in 1722. Another notable bearer of the name was Edmund Ironmonger (1879-1959), a British historian and author who specialized in medieval English history.

The Ironmonger surname can also be found in various locations across England, often reflecting the presence of ironmongers in those areas. For example, Ironmonger Lane in London's City district was named after the ironmongers who lived and worked there. Similarly, the village of Ironmonger's Field in Buckinghamshire is believed to have derived its name from an ironmonger who owned land in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ironmonger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ironmonger 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. Lincolnshire leads with 111 Ironmongers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.06x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 111 13.06x
Derbyshire 73 8.77x
Staffordshire 69 3.84x
Middlesex 36 0.68x
Yorkshire 36 0.68x
Kent 33 1.82x
Warwickshire 33 2.46x
Hertfordshire 32 8.73x
Surrey 27 1.04x
Lancashire 18 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 15 2.09x
Leicestershire 12 2.04x
Essex 11 1.05x
Buckinghamshire 8 2.49x
Hampshire 8 0.73x
Huntingdonshire 7 6.63x
Sussex 4 0.45x
Worcestershire 4 0.58x
Bedfordshire 3 1.09x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Devon 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.20x
Royal Navy 1 1.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 20 Ironmongers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.42x.

Place Total Index
Aston 20 5.42x
Burton Upon Trent 20 47.64x
Ilkeston 17 72.84x
Maltby Le Marsh 14 2545.45x
Strood 14 135.27x
West Fen 14 2372.88x
Birmingham 13 2.91x
West Ham 11 4.75x
Mile End Old Town London 10 8.84x
St Albans St Peter 10 80.91x
Bradford 9 7.06x
Great Grimsby 9 16.68x
Allhallows 8 1403.51x
Darlaston 8 32.26x
Nottingham St Mary 8 4.32x
Rotherham 8 26.94x
Shardlow 8 506.33x
Wolverhampton 8 5.80x
Bromley London 7 5.99x
Croydon 7 4.87x
Dalderby 7 7777.78x
Donington On Bain 7 813.95x
Godmanchester 7 175.44x
Long Eaton 7 63.69x
St Albans 7 93.21x
Cannock 6 19.16x
Ealing 6 12.63x
East Kirkby 6 1000.00x
Frindsbury 6 87.72x
Ilkestonderbypart 6 246.91x
Manchester 6 2.11x
Newborough 6 508.47x
Newington 6 3.06x
Buckingham 5 76.45x
Derby St Werburgh 5 10.40x
Hinckley 5 35.77x
Hitchin 5 30.23x
Hulme 5 3.80x
Hundleby 5 434.78x
Layston 5 256.41x
Mareham On Hill 5 1785.71x
Middlesbrough 5 7.29x
Norton Canes 5 76.45x
Willoughby 5 446.43x
Withern 5 602.41x
Abbots Bromley 4 150.38x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 8.15x
Church Gresley 4 30.21x
Derby St Alkmund 4 16.04x
Framfield 4 143.88x
Kings Norton 4 6.43x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.78x
Litchurch 4 11.94x
Martin In Horncastle 4 3076.92x
Richmond 4 11.02x
Romsey Extra 4 61.73x
Salford 4 2.16x
Sawley 4 159.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.74x
Tetford 4 370.37x
West Bromwich 4 3.89x
Ashborne 3 53.00x
Derby St Peter 3 11.32x
Flamstead 3 88.76x
Hagnaby 3 1666.67x
Hamstall Ridware 3 428.57x
Horsley 3 59.88x
Kensington London 3 1.02x
Linthorpe 3 9.54x
Luton 3 6.30x
St Botolph Lincoln 3 49.10x
Croxton Keyrial 2 200.00x
Hatherton 2 256.41x
Lambeth 2 0.43x
Newark Upon Trent 2 7.76x
Oldham 2 0.98x
Parwich 2 232.56x
St Peterin Eastgate 2 76.05x
Tottenham 2 2.36x
Upton 2 219.78x

FAQ

Ironmonger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ironmonger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 543 people were recorded with the Ironmonger surname. That placed it at #6,354 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ironmonger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 540 in 2016. That gives Ironmonger a modern rank of #9,422.

What does the Ironmonger surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation involving the trade or selling of iron goods and hardware.

What does the Ironmonger map show?

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