NameCensus.

UK surname

Lemaire

An occupational surname for a mayor or an elected head of a town or village.

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Lemaire surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 150, ranked #23,724, up from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Elmbridge and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lemaire is 150 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 212.5%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

2016

150 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lemaire had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 60 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Lemaire surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lemaire surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lemaire 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 11 #31,309
1861 historical 22 #31,140
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 27 #32,115
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 60 #26,808
1997 modern 121 #24,019
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 136 #23,186
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 119 #25,193
2006 modern 112 #26,415
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 124 #25,371
2009 modern 131 #25,056
2010 modern 146 #23,921
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 135 #24,952
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Lemaires 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 West Lancashire, Elmbridge, East Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire. 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 West Lancashire 014 West Lancashire
2 Elmbridge 002 Elmbridge
3 East Hertfordshire 012 East Hertfordshire
4 West Lancashire 010 West Lancashire
5 Central Bedfordshire 028 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lemaire

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lemaire

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Lemaire surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Lemaire 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Lemaire 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

Lemaire is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Lemaire falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Lemaire 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lemaire

The surname LEMAIRE originated in France during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old French words "le" meaning "the" and "maire" meaning "mayor" or "leader". The name was likely first given as an occupational surname to individuals who served as mayors or held positions of authority within their local communities.

In its earliest recorded form, the name appeared as "Le Maire" in various French records from the 12th and 13th centuries. Over time, the spelling evolved to the more modern form of "LEMAIRE" that is commonly seen today. The name was particularly prevalent in the northern regions of France, including Normandy and Brittany.

One notable early reference to the surname LEMAIRE can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and tax records commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed among the landowners and tenants in several counties across England, suggesting that individuals bearing this French surname had already begun to establish themselves in parts of Britain by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname LEMAIRE was Jean LEMAIRE, a renowned French poet and historian who lived from 1473 to 1548. He served as an indripher (official poet) to several French kings, including Louis XII and Francis I, and is best known for his works such as "Les Illustrations de Gaule et Singularitez de Troye" and "La Légende des Vénitiens".

Another notable figure was Philippe LEMAIRE, a French painter and engraver born in 1610. He was a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and is celebrated for his religious works and portraiture, including a famous portrait of Louis XIV.

In the 18th century, Pierre-Augustin Caron de LEMAIRE (1756-1836) was a prominent French playwright and librettist who authored several operas and plays during the Napoleonic era.

François-Édouard LEMAIRE (1850-1924) was a 19th-century French sculptor known for his monumental works, including the statue of Joan of Arc in Rouen and the "Monument to the Republic" in Paris.

Lastly, Georges LEMAIRE (1894-1963) was a 20th-century French physicist and engineer who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lemaire families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lemaire 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. Middlesex leads with 16 Lemaires recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.43x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 16 4.43x
Devon 6 7.99x
Surrey 6 3.41x
Suffolk 3 6.83x
Kent 2 1.62x
Nottinghamshire 2 4.11x
Yorkshire 2 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 6 Lemaires recorded in 1881 and an index of 188.68x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 6 188.68x
Croydon 5 51.23x
St George Hanover Square 5 78.62x
Islington London 3 8.58x
Kensington London 3 14.96x
Newmarket St Mary 3 882.35x
Erith 2 165.29x
St Marylebone London 2 10.38x
Battersea 1 7.53x
Bulwell 1 94.34x
Hanworth 1 769.23x
Manningham 1 22.73x
Nottingham St Mary 1 7.95x
Paddington London 1 7.54x
St Martin Ludgate London 1 5000.00x
Wadworth 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
George 2
Henry 2
Alfred 1
Amedee 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
E. 1
Edmond 1
Francis 1
Jules 1
Paul 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Lemaire surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lemaire surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Lemaire surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lemaire surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Lemaire a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Lemaire surname mean?

An occupational surname for a mayor or an elected head of a town or village.

What does the Lemaire map show?

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