NameCensus.

UK surname

Omer

Derived from a Hebrew word meaning "sheaf of grain," likely referring to a harvest or agricultural occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Omer surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 994, ranked #5,829, up from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton and Stoneferry, Upton with Chalvey and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, North Hertfordshire and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Omer is 994 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1556.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

994

2016, ranked #5,829

Peak year

2016

994 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Omer had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016, ranked #5,829.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 114 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Omer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Omer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Omer 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 103 #23,558
1901 historical 114 #21,166
1911 historical 109 #21,611
1997 modern 398 #11,051
1998 modern 424 #10,880
1999 modern 439 #10,673
2000 modern 447 #10,497
2001 modern 438 #10,462
2002 modern 498 #9,664
2003 modern 519 #9,248
2004 modern 561 #8,736
2005 modern 618 #8,081
2006 modern 685 #7,500
2007 modern 725 #7,247
2008 modern 764 #6,999
2009 modern 792 #6,950
2010 modern 854 #6,663
2011 modern 861 #6,550
2012 modern 880 #6,349
2013 modern 935 #6,172
2014 modern 964 #6,052
2015 modern 987 #5,872
2016 modern 994 #5,829

Geography

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Where Omers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton and Stoneferry, Upton with Chalvey, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Drypool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, North Hertfordshire, Westminster and Hounslow. 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 Sutton and Stoneferry Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Drypool Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 017 Preston
2 North Hertfordshire 015 North Hertfordshire
3 Westminster 009 Westminster
4 Hounslow 004 Hounslow
5 Preston 016 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Omer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Omer

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Omer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Omer 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Omer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Omer 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

Omer falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Omer 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Omer

The surname OMER has its origins in the Arabic language, derived from the personal name Omar, which means "life" or "long-lived." The name traces its roots back to the 7th century, during the time of the Islamic expansion across the Middle East and North Africa.

The earliest recorded instances of the OMER surname can be found in records from the medieval Islamic world, particularly in regions like the Levant, Egypt, and parts of North Africa. It is believed that the surname was initially adopted by families or individuals who were descendants or followers of the second caliph, Omar ibn al-Khattab, one of the most influential figures in early Islamic history.

In the 11th century, the name OMER appeared in the "Book of Good Deeds" (Kitab al-Wulah), a historic text documenting the biographies of notable individuals from the region. One prominent bearer of the name mentioned in this text was Omar ibn Abi Rabia, a celebrated poet and scholar who lived in the early 8th century.

As the Islamic empires expanded and trade routes flourished, the OMER surname spread to other parts of the world, including Europe and Asia. In the 13th century, a prominent Sufi mystic and philosopher named Omar Khayyam, born in Nishapur, Persia (modern-day Iran), gained widespread recognition for his influential works, including the Rubaiyat.

During the Ottoman Empire's rule in the Balkans, the OMER surname became more prevalent in regions like Bosnia and Herzegovina, where it was often spelled as "Omer" or "Omerović." One notable figure from this region was Omer Pasha Latas, a military leader and statesman who played a significant role in the Ottoman-Russian wars of the 19th century (1807-1871).

In the Indian subcontinent, the OMER surname can be traced back to the Mughal Empire, where it was adopted by families of Arab or Persian descent. One prominent bearer of the name was Sir Omar Saeed Hayat Khan, a distinguished Indian politician and statesman who served as the Minister of Supply in the interim government of India in 1946 (1891-1958).

Other notable individuals with the OMER surname include Omar Torrijos, a former leader of Panama who played a pivotal role in the negotiation of the Panama Canal treaties (1929-1981), and Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst, a British author and translator best known for his English translations of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (1864-1944).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Omer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Omer 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 29 Omers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 29 5.04x
Yorkshire 14 2.45x
Kent 8 4.07x
Nottinghamshire 3 3.87x
Devon 2 1.67x
Durham 1 0.58x
Lancashire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 2.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 14 Omers recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.22x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 14 30.22x
Islington London 9 16.13x
Sutton Stoneferry 8 490.80x
Deal 6 359.28x
Annesley 3 1034.48x
Drypool 3 344.83x
Southcoates 3 94.64x
Bideford 2 156.25x
Kensington London 2 6.25x
St Botolph Aldgate 2 253.16x
Bishopwearmouth 1 6.80x
Deptford St Paul 1 6.60x
Islip 1 833.33x
St Luke London 1 10.83x
St Marylebone London 1 3.25x
Tonbridge 1 14.12x
Wigan 1 10.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 4
James 3
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Walter 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
George 1
H. 1
J.Henry 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Omer households.

FAQ

Omer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Omer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Omer surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Omer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 994 in 2016. That gives Omer a modern rank of #5,829.

What does the Omer surname mean?

Derived from a Hebrew word meaning "sheaf of grain," likely referring to a harvest or agricultural occupation.

What does the Omer map show?

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