NameCensus.

UK surname

Lymer

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Lymer surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 502, ranked #9,961, up from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Castle Church and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Wychavon and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lymer is 565 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 121.1%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

502

2016, ranked #9,961

Peak year

2002

565 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lymer had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 502 in 2016, ranked #9,961.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 449 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Lymer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lymer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lymer 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 337 #10,133
1901 historical 431 #8,982
1911 historical 449 #8,519
1997 modern 414 #10,729
1998 modern 548 #8,960
1999 modern 556 #8,912
2000 modern 546 #9,001
2001 modern 542 #8,904
2002 modern 565 #8,802
2003 modern 548 #8,860
2004 modern 546 #8,906
2005 modern 535 #8,983
2006 modern 532 #9,053
2007 modern 528 #9,174
2008 modern 519 #9,372
2009 modern 518 #9,588
2010 modern 529 #9,640
2011 modern 535 #9,480
2012 modern 509 #9,734
2013 modern 523 #9,697
2014 modern 514 #9,891
2015 modern 510 #9,875
2016 modern 502 #9,961

Geography

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Where Lymers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Castle Church, London parishes, Leeds and Burslem. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Wychavon and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Castle Church Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Burslem Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 017 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Wychavon 004 Wychavon
3 Stoke-on-Trent 016 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stoke-on-Trent 019 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lymer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lymer

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Lymer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Lymer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Lymer 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

Lymer is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Lymer

The surname Lymer has its origins in England, emerging sometime around the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "lyme," which referred to a lime or linden tree. This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near a prominent lime tree or in an area where these trees were abundant.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lymer can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1285, which mentions a John Lymer. This legal document, which recorded land transactions, provides evidence that the name was in use during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Lymer surname appeared in various records across different counties in England. For instance, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 listed a John Lymer, while the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1332 included a Thomas Lymer.

The Lymer name has also been linked to certain place names, such as Lymer in Hampshire, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Limere." This connection suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.

Notable individuals with the surname Lymer include Sir John Lymer (c. 1535-1609), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Southampton. Another notable figure was William Lymer (1592-1653), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 17th century, Edward Lymer (1628-1686) was a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer. A contemporary of his was Samuel Lymer (1635-1701), an English merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to educational and charitable causes.

One of the more recent historical figures with the Lymer surname was John Lymer (1767-1849), an English engraver and illustrator known for his work on botanical publications.

These examples demonstrate the longevity and geographical spread of the Lymer surname throughout English history, with individuals bearing this name emerging in various regions and professions over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lymer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lymer 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 150 Lymers recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.07x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 150 20.07x
Yorkshire 24 1.09x
Lancashire 17 0.65x
Derbyshire 16 4.62x
Middlesex 10 0.45x
Warwickshire 4 0.72x
Shropshire 2 1.05x
Surrey 2 0.19x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Northamptonshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 87 Lymers recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.78x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 87 109.78x
Burslem 10 46.71x
Wortley In Bramley 9 51.78x
Ashton In Makerfield 8 106.95x
Clerkenwell London 8 15.31x
Hartington Upper 8 484.85x
Bilston 7 48.34x
Castle Church 7 155.90x
Glossop Dale 7 43.13x
Rocester 7 752.69x
Cheddleton 5 320.51x
Gorton 5 20.24x
Hilderstone 5 1666.67x
Middlesbrough 5 17.50x
Aston 4 2.60x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 19.57x
Wolstanton 4 17.62x
Audley 3 40.60x
Caverswall 3 77.32x
Draycott In Moors 3 967.74x
Tillington 3 1500.00x
Bermondsey 2 3.03x
Linthorpe 2 15.28x
Liverpool 2 1.25x
Normanby In 2 34.07x
St Marylebone London 2 1.69x
Acton Burnell 1 400.00x
Chapel Allerton 1 30.49x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.24x
Eggington 1 322.58x
Ercall Magna 1 72.99x
Everton 1 1.19x
Gayton 1 555.56x
Maxey 1 217.39x
Portsea 1 1.12x
Stafford St Mary 1 9.45x
Stone 1 10.46x
Stretford 1 6.92x
Upper Penn 1 53.48x
Uttoxeter 1 26.11x
Yarlett 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 8
Harriet 7
Martha 7
Emma 6
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Annie 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Eliza 2
Gertrude 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
...pery 1
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizebth. 1
Emiliar 1
Etty 1
Fanny 1
Hannal 1
Henrietta 1
Leanora 1
Letitia 1
Lizzie 1
Lousia 1
Lydia 1
Myra 1
Nellie 1
Penelope 1
Rachel 1
Tamer 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 12
George 9
Joseph 8
Henry 7
Thomas 6
James 5
Samuel 3
Charles 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Ralph 2
Richard 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Aron 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elizth. 1
Endon 1
Francis 1
Fred.A. 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Howard 1
Moses 1
Saml. 1
Thos.H. 1
Walter 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Lymer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lymer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Lymer surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lymer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 502 in 2016. That gives Lymer a modern rank of #9,961.

What does the Lymer surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Lymer map show?

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