NameCensus.

UK surname

Lemm

A German surname possibly derived from a pet form of the given name Lembrecht.

In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Lemm surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 289, ranked #15,137, up from #25,733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Tipton otherwise Tibington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Sheffield and Chichester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lemm is 292 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 416.1%.

1881 census count

56

Ranked #25,733

Modern count

289

2016, ranked #15,137

Peak year

2013

292 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lemm had 56 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016, ranked #15,137.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Lemm surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lemm surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Lemm 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
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 56 #25,733
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 153 #17,633
1997 modern 281 #14,110
1998 modern 284 #14,402
1999 modern 287 #14,374
2000 modern 281 #14,567
2001 modern 268 #14,812
2002 modern 272 #14,930
2003 modern 260 #15,216
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 284 #14,548
2008 modern 279 #14,860
2009 modern 280 #15,141
2010 modern 278 #15,567
2011 modern 277 #15,433
2012 modern 290 #14,838
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 282 #15,417
2016 modern 289 #15,137

Geography

Back to top

Where Lemms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Tormoham with Torquay and Worcester St Peter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Sheffield, Chichester, Calderdale and Brighton and Hove. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
4 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
5 Worcester St Peter Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 011 Walsall
2 Sheffield 059 Sheffield
3 Chichester 008 Chichester
4 Calderdale 019 Calderdale
5 Brighton and Hove 020 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Lemm

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Lemm

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Lemm, 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 Lemm surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Lemm household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Lemm is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lemm 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

Lemm 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 Lemm 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 Lemm, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Lemm

The surname LEMM is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Rhineland-Palatinate, during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "lemme," which means "lame" or "crippled." This suggests that the name was likely initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a physical disability or impairment.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name LEMM can be found in the Reichsmatrikel, a historical document from the Holy Roman Empire, which dates back to the 15th century. The Reichsmatrikel lists various families and their heraldic arms, and it includes the LEMM family among the noble families of the region.

In the 16th century, the LEMM name appears in several local church records and municipal documents from the towns of Trier and Koblenz, indicating that the family had established roots in these areas. One notable individual from this period was Johann LEMM, a merchant and landowner who lived in Koblenz between 1530 and 1596.

During the 17th century, the LEMM family expanded their influence and several members achieved prominence. Andreas LEMM (1622-1680) was a respected jurist and legal scholar who served as a judge in the court of the Elector of Trier. His son, Johann Friedrich LEMM (1656-1712), followed in his footsteps and became a renowned lawyer and professor of law at the University of Heidelberg.

In the 18th century, the LEMM name gained further recognition with the birth of Johann Georg LEMM (1732-1808), a renowned composer and organist who served at the court of the Prince-Bishop of Worms. His compositions and musical talents were highly regarded throughout the Holy Roman Empire.

Another prominent figure from this era was Karl Friedrich LEMM (1757-1828), a military officer who served in the Prussian Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of General and was decorated for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

As the centuries passed, the LEMM name spread beyond Germany, with families bearing this surname establishing themselves in various parts of Europe and eventually in the Americas. However, the name's roots can be traced back to the Rhine region of Germany, where it originated as a descriptive nickname in the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Lemm families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lemm 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. Staffordshire leads with 20 Lemms recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.85x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 20 10.85x
Worcestershire 10 14.03x
Northumberland 7 8.62x
Hampshire 5 4.47x
Yorkshire 4 0.74x
Berkshire 3 7.32x
Durham 3 1.85x
Lancashire 2 0.31x
Sussex 2 2.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 10 Lemms recorded in 1881 and an index of 145.99x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 10 145.99x
West Bromwich 8 75.83x
Worcester St Peter 8 592.59x
Eltringham 7 7777.78x
Farlington 5 2173.91x
Leeds 4 13.09x
Collierley 3 416.67x
Newbury 3 229.01x
Liverpool 2 5.08x
Worcester St Helen 2 869.57x
Burntwood Edial 1 84.75x
Heathfield 1 270.27x
New Shoreham 1 181.82x
Walsall Borough 1 69.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 5
Joseph 3
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Charles 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Hary 1
Jame 1
James 1
Josephus 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Lemm surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lemm surname in 1881?

In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Lemm surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lemm surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 289 in 2016. That gives Lemm a modern rank of #15,137.

What does the Lemm surname mean?

A German surname possibly derived from a pet form of the given name Lembrecht.

What does the Lemm map show?

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