NameCensus.

UK surname

Ormerod

A locational surname derived from a place named Ormerod near Burnley, Lancashire.

In the 1881 census there were 2,401 people recorded with the Ormerod surname, ranking it #1,857 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,989, ranked #3,237, down from #1,857 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Hyndburn and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ormerod is 3,075 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.2%.

1881 census count

2,401

Ranked #1,857

Modern count

1,989

2016, ranked #3,237

Peak year

1911

3,075 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ormerod had 2,401 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,857 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,989 in 2016, ranked #3,237.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,075 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Ormerod surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ormerod surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ormerod 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 1,214 #2,348
1861 historical 1,107 #2,531
1881 historical 2,401 #1,857
1891 historical 2,707 #1,752
1901 historical 2,969 #1,885
1911 historical 3,075 #1,694
1997 modern 2,122 #2,910
1998 modern 2,176 #2,944
1999 modern 2,165 #2,983
2000 modern 2,160 #2,967
2001 modern 2,125 #2,953
2002 modern 2,139 #2,994
2003 modern 2,080 #3,014
2004 modern 2,082 #3,014
2005 modern 2,082 #2,965
2006 modern 2,033 #3,041
2007 modern 2,034 #3,077
2008 modern 2,024 #3,116
2009 modern 2,068 #3,125
2010 modern 2,114 #3,134
2011 modern 2,048 #3,176
2012 modern 1,989 #3,209
2013 modern 2,024 #3,214
2014 modern 2,033 #3,222
2015 modern 2,013 #3,218
2016 modern 1,989 #3,237

Geography

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Where Ormerods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Blackburn, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Hyndburn and Rossendale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 004 Burnley
2 Burnley 010 Burnley
3 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
4 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
5 Rossendale 010 Rossendale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ormerod

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ormerod

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Ormerod surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ormerod household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Ormerod 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

Ormerod is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ormerod

The surname Ormerod has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Ormerod, which itself is derived from the Old English words "or" meaning a slope or bank, and "rod" meaning a clearing or a pasture. This suggests that the name likely originated from a settlement situated on a sloping pasture or clearing.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, which mention an individual named Adam de Ormerod. This indicates that the surname was already established in Lancashire by that time.

Interestingly, the name Ormerod also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, albeit in a slightly different form. The entry mentions a place called "Ormerodelant" in the county of Cheshire, which is believed to be the same location from which the surname originated.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Ormerod surname. One such figure was George Ormerod (1785-1873), an antiquarian and historian who authored the influential work "The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester." Another prominent Ormerod was Oliver Ormerod (1548-1627), a Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of King James I.

In the realm of literature, Eleanor A. Ormerod (1828-1901) made significant contributions as an entomologist and naturalist, publishing numerous works on agricultural pests and their control. Her work played a pivotal role in the development of economic entomology.

Moving to more recent times, Geoffrey Ormerod (1914-2005) was a distinguished British diplomat who served as the UK's Ambassador to France from 1972 to 1975. He played a crucial role in facilitating the UK's entry into the European Economic Community (now the European Union).

Another notable figure was Nellie Ormerod (1909-1995), a British trade unionist and political activist who dedicated her life to advocating for workers' rights and promoting social justice.

While the Ormerod surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its history and legacy span centuries, with individuals from various walks of life leaving their mark on fields ranging from literature and academia to politics and advocacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ormerod families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ormerod 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. Lancashire leads with 2,028 Ormerods recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.32x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,028 7.32x
Yorkshire 218 0.94x
Middlesex 20 0.09x
Cheshire 19 0.37x
Cumberland 15 0.75x
Sussex 14 0.36x
Durham 13 0.19x
Surrey 13 0.11x
Gloucestershire 12 0.26x
Warwickshire 9 0.15x
Derbyshire 8 0.22x
Westmorland 6 1.17x
Kent 5 0.06x
Peeblesshire 5 4.55x
Devon 3 0.06x
Isle of Man 3 0.69x
Hampshire 2 0.04x
Anglesey 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 266 Ormerods recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.06x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 266 36.06x
Newchurch 213 93.92x
Spotland 97 31.47x
Accrington 91 36.11x
Haslingden 78 67.95x
Stansfield 76 89.21x
Tottington Lower End 57 43.27x
Lower Booths 55 110.73x
Castleton 53 19.14x
Bury 52 16.42x
Colne 47 56.91x
Worsthorne Cum 41 465.38x
Preston 39 5.26x
Habergham Eaves 38 15.00x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 37 124.92x
Manchester 29 2.33x
Burnley 27 11.57x
Todmorden Walsden 27 36.35x
Chorley 25 16.07x
Higher Booths 25 50.03x
Rishton 24 73.80x
Salford 24 2.94x
Clitheroe 23 28.19x
Great Little Marsden 22 17.32x
Livesey 22 45.22x
Wardleworth 22 13.89x
Cliviger 20 128.12x
Gorton 20 7.67x
Rastrick 20 31.10x
Church 19 48.53x
Halliwell 19 18.83x
Oldham 19 2.12x
Elton 18 18.79x
Clayton Le Moors 17 31.60x
Butterworth 16 23.69x
Higham With West Close 16 266.22x
Pudsey 15 12.12x
Great Harwood 14 27.94x
Read 14 188.93x
Barnoldswick 13 40.22x
Worsley 13 7.61x
Alston 12 92.95x
Atherton 12 11.89x
Chadderton 12 8.85x
Padiham 12 17.92x
Witton 12 34.40x
Blatchinworth 11 17.43x
Brighton 11 1.38x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 2.50x
Elland Cum Greetland 11 10.55x
Hardhorn With Newton 11 324.48x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 1.65x
Newton 10 4.68x
St Cuthbert W O 10 10.20x
Walmersley Cum 10 22.57x
Birtle Cum Bamford 9 49.75x
Bredbury 9 30.15x
Clayton Le Dale 9 381.36x
Middleton In Oldham 9 10.83x
West Derby 9 1.11x
Whalley 9 22.28x
Windle 9 5.77x
Ainsworth 8 74.56x
Barrow In Furness 8 2.12x
Halifax 8 2.35x
Haydock 8 16.75x
Hulme 8 1.38x
Pendlebury 8 13.67x
Tonge 8 13.76x
Tottington Higher End 8 25.35x
Withington 8 8.96x
Cheltenham 7 1.98x
Darlington 7 2.61x
Heap 7 4.76x
Heaton Norris 7 4.44x
Hipperholme Cum 7 6.88x
Lower Darwen 7 19.24x
Marton 7 37.98x
Clapham 6 2.05x
Saddleworth 6 3.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 198
Elizabeth 99
Sarah 97
Alice 79
Jane 69
Margaret 56
Ann 54
Ellen 53
Hannah 38
Martha 32
Annie 26
Betty 18
Emily 16
Emma 16
Nancy 15
Betsy 13
Ada 11
Catherine 11
Agnes 10
Clara 10
Edith 10
Eliza 10
Maria 10
Susan 9
Eleanor 8
Esther 8
Grace 8
Isabella 8
Rebecca 8
Susannah 8
Harriet 7
Fanny 6
Rachel 6
Amelia 5
Bertha 5
Charlotte 5
Lucy 5
Margt. 5
Caroline 4
Elizebeth 4
Florence 4
Kate 4
Matilda 4
Minnie 4
Anne 3
Gertrude 3
Janet 3
Lilly 3
Louisa 3
Priscilla 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 206
James 123
William 104
Thomas 94
George 84
Henry 58
Robert 43
Joseph 36
Richard 30
Peter 23
Arthur 18
Albert 17
Oliver 16
Walter 16
Samuel 14
Harry 13
Edward 11
Wm. 11
Alfred 9
Charles 9
Frank 9
Fred 9
David 8
Abraham 7
Benjamin 7
Ernest 7
Lawrence 7
Edmund 6
Herbert 6
Francis 5
Stephen 5
Sutcliffe 5
Thos. 5
Edwin 4
Hanson 4
Jas. 4
Richd. 4
Daniel 3
Jonathan 3
Joshua 3
Levi 3
Luke 3
Enoch 2
Fielden 2
Frederick 2
Jonas 2
Matthew 2
Nathan 2
Robinson 2
Seth 2

FAQ

Ormerod surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ormerod surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,401 people were recorded with the Ormerod surname. That placed it at #1,857 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ormerod surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,989 in 2016. That gives Ormerod a modern rank of #3,237.

What does the Ormerod surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Ormerod near Burnley, Lancashire.

What does the Ormerod map show?

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