NameCensus.

UK surname

Limer

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with a lame or limping gait.

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Limer surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 210, ranked #18,965, down from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Blithfield and Wakefield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and Richmondshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Limer is 236 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.7%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

2002

236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Limer had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Limer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Limer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Limer 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 158 #12,461
1861 historical 128 #17,375
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 134 #19,777
1901 historical 140 #18,795
1911 historical 178 #16,073
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 223 #17,025
2000 modern 230 #16,644
2001 modern 225 #16,664
2002 modern 236 #16,455
2003 modern 231 #16,504
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 223 #16,938
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 214 #17,688
2008 modern 218 #17,638
2009 modern 225 #17,631
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 219 #18,385
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

Back to top

Where Limers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Blithfield, Wakefield, Wisbech St Peter and Wath-on-Dearn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Derbyshire Dales and Richmondshire. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Blithfield Staffordshire
3 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire
5 Wath-on-Dearn Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 012 High Peak
2 Derbyshire Dales 003 Derbyshire Dales
3 High Peak 010 High Peak
4 Derbyshire Dales 009 Derbyshire Dales
5 Richmondshire 004 Richmondshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Limer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Limer

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

Limer 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

Limer falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Limer

The surname Limer originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "lim," meaning "lime tree" or "linden tree." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a lime tree or worked with lime wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Limer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Limer." This indicates that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Lymer" and "Lymere," further cementing its connection to the Old English word "lim." During this period, the name was prevalent in counties such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, where lime trees were abundant.

One notable individual bearing the Limer surname was Sir Thomas Limer, a wealthy landowner and member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the late 15th century (c. 1450-1520). Another was John Limer, a merchant and alderman in the city of London in the 16th century (c. 1520-1585).

In the 17th century, the name appears in records from the village of Limmer in Hampshire, suggesting a possible connection between the surname and this place name, which itself is derived from the Old English word "lim."

During the 18th century, the Limer family had a presence in the county of Wiltshire, where they owned land and were involved in agriculture. One member, William Limer (1705-1778), was a prominent farmer and landowner in the area.

Another notable individual was Sir Edward Limer (1800-1875), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He was knighted for his charitable works and his contributions to the city of Manchester.

Throughout its history, the surname Limer has maintained a connection to its Old English roots, with the lime tree or linden tree serving as a symbol of the name's origin and meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Limer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Limer 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 43 Limers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.75x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 43 9.75x
Yorkshire 24 1.85x
Derbyshire 18 8.80x
Lancashire 13 0.84x
Cambridgeshire 10 12.08x
Durham 9 2.31x
Middlesex 5 0.38x
Warwickshire 5 1.52x
Gloucestershire 3 1.17x
Kent 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.69x
Northamptonshire 1 0.81x
Suffolk 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wath On Dearne in Yorkshire leads with 15 Limers recorded in 1881 and an index of 581.40x.

Place Total Index
Wath On Dearne 15 581.40x
Taddington 13 7222.22x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 23.51x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 53.44x
Wisbech St Peter 8 192.77x
Hollinsclough 6 3750.00x
Uttoxeter 6 265.49x
Bramley In Bramley 5 100.81x
Newton Biggin 5 4545.45x
St Marylebone London 5 7.17x
Abbots Bromley 4 615.38x
Cheslyn Hay 4 493.83x
Gorton 4 27.43x
Oldham 4 7.99x
Blithfield 3 2307.69x
Burton Extra 3 118.58x
Manchester 3 4.30x
North Nibley 3 810.81x
Heathylee 2 1052.63x
Higher Booths 2 71.43x
Litchurch 2 24.30x
Strensall 2 1000.00x
Blackwell 1 99.01x
Elm 1 123.46x
Hartington Upper 1 102.04x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 22.42x
Kettering 1 20.12x
Leeds 1 1.37x
Leek Frith 1 270.27x
Leek Lowe 1 17.04x
Lewisham 1 4.21x
Marston Montgomery 1 588.24x
Old Malton 1 123.46x
Ratby 1 136.99x
Tatenhill 1 333.33x
Willingham 1 140.85x
Yoxall 1 172.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 11
Ann 6
Alice 3
Elizabeth 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Edna 1
Elenor 1
Elizh. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Myra 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
George 7
Thomas 6
William 6
Joseph 5
Isaac 4
Charles 3
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Austin 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
James 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Malachi 1
Matthew 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Limer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Limer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Limer surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Limer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Limer a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Limer surname mean?

A surname derived from a nickname for someone with a lame or limping gait.

What does the Limer map show?

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