NameCensus.

UK surname

Limmer

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "limmer" meaning a maker of green or blue dye colors.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Limmer surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 212, ranked #18,843, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St James, London parishes and Gorleston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, East Lindsey and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Limmer is 300 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.0%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

212

2016, ranked #18,843

Peak year

1911

300 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Limmer had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016, ranked #18,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Limmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Limmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Limmer 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 89 #18,446
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 182 #15,983
1901 historical 259 #12,848
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 228 #16,790
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 195 #18,411
2004 modern 197 #18,368
2005 modern 201 #18,080
2006 modern 203 #18,105
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 230 #17,750
2011 modern 223 #17,940
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 219 #18,385
2014 modern 214 #18,825
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 212 #18,843

Geography

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Where Limmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St James, London parishes, Gorleston, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, East Lindsey, Sedgemoor, Breckland and East Hertfordshire. 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 St James Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gorleston Suffolk
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 016 South Cambridgeshire
2 East Lindsey 001 East Lindsey
3 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
4 Breckland 014 Breckland
5 East Hertfordshire 009 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Limmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Limmer

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

Limmer is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Limmer falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Limmer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Limmer

The surname Limmer originated in the German region of Rhineland during the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "limmer," meaning a lime tree or linden tree. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a lime tree or a place where such trees grew in abundance.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Limmer surname can be found in the town records of Cologne, Germany, dated 1387, which mention a "Hans Limmer." Another early reference is from the municipality of Ahrweiler in 1492, where a "Peter Limmer" is listed as a landowner.

The Limmer name also appears in several historical documents and manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries. Notably, a "Johann Limmer" is mentioned in the records of the city of Trier in 1532, and a "Christoph Limmer" is recorded as a merchant in the city of Frankfurt in 1627.

In terms of notable individuals bearing the Limmer surname, one of the earliest was Matthias Limmer (1492-1558), a German sculptor and woodcarver who worked in the Renaissance style. His most famous works include the intricate woodcarvings in the choir stalls of the Strasbourg Cathedral.

Another noteworthy figure was Johann Limmer (1578-1642), a German composer and organist who served as the Kapellmeister (chapel master) at the court of the Elector of Saxony. He composed numerous sacred and secular works, including motets, masses, and instrumental pieces.

In the 18th century, Johann Philipp Limmer (1727-1795) was a German painter and engraver who is known for his landscapes and genre scenes. His works were influenced by the Rococo and Neoclassical styles and can be found in various museums across Europe.

Moving to the 19th century, Karl Limmer (1812-1887) was a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other cities in Prussia. He was also involved in the development of urban infrastructure and transportation systems.

Finally, in the 20th century, Helmut Limmer (1920-2002) was a German physicist and academic who made significant contributions to the field of solid-state physics. He served as a professor at the University of Göttingen and authored several influential publications on the properties of semiconductors and crystalline materials.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Limmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Limmer 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. Norfolk leads with 49 Limmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.08x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 49 21.08x
Middlesex 26 1.72x
Suffolk 23 12.49x
Surrey 8 1.09x
Yorkshire 7 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 6 6.56x
Kent 6 1.16x
Lincolnshire 6 2.48x
Sussex 6 2.35x
Berkshire 5 4.41x
Somerset 5 2.05x
Cambridgeshire 4 4.18x
Essex 2 0.67x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 18 Limmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 144.23x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 18 144.23x
Islington London 10 6.82x
Bury St Edmunds St James 8 162.60x
Gorleston 8 170.94x
Norwich St Peter 7 457.52x
St Marylebone London 7 8.67x
Banham 6 1016.95x
Burnham 6 517.24x
Spalding 6 125.00x
Bexley 5 109.65x
Broadwater 5 85.47x
Dickleburgh 5 1162.79x
Weston Super Mare 5 81.43x
Winkfield 5 265.96x
Attleborough 4 341.88x
Lambeth 4 3.03x
Langcliffe 4 1111.11x
Bylaugh 3 5000.00x
Dorking 3 60.61x
Hackney London 3 3.54x
Hornsey 3 15.69x
Rastrick 3 72.12x
South Elmham St James 3 2500.00x
Brinkley 2 1333.33x
Ipswich St Margaret 2 32.00x
Runton 2 769.23x
Shouldham 2 606.06x
Wisbech St Peter 2 41.67x
Ashford 1 84.03x
Battersea 1 1.80x
Bridgham 1 714.29x
Brighton 1 1.94x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 28.90x
Colchester St Peter 1 84.03x
Gillingham 1 9.41x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 1 243.90x
Layton With Warbreck 1 15.20x
Mile End Old Town London 1 3.11x
North Walsham 1 59.52x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.90x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 32.15x
Walton Le Soken 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 5
Agnes 4
Eliza 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clarissa 1
E.Jane 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Josepine 1
Katie 1
Louise 1
Maggie 1
Mahala 1
Marian 1
Mariann 1
Nellie 1
Phebe 1
Pheobe 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Rossana 1
Susan 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
George 8
Henry 6
Charles 4
Edward 4
James 4
John 4
Alfred 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Frederick 2
Leonard 2
Samuel 2
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Hartnall 1
Hartnell 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1

FAQ

Limmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Limmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Limmer surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Limmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016. That gives Limmer a modern rank of #18,843.

What does the Limmer surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word "limmer" meaning a maker of green or blue dye colors.

What does the Limmer map show?

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