UK surname
A surname referring to someone from a palm grove or palm farmer.
In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Palmar surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #27,447 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Winchester Milland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Palmar is 319 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.7%.
1881 census count
44
Ranked #27,447
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1861
319 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Palmar surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Palmar surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 319 | #7,987 |
| 1881 | historical | 44 | #27,447 |
| 1891 | historical | 134 | #19,777 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 40 | #33,842 |
| 2002 | modern | 48 | #33,459 |
| 2003 | modern | 40 | #34,215 |
| 2004 | modern | 39 | #34,477 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 35 | #35,191 |
| 2007 | modern | 36 | #35,278 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 33 | #35,671 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 35 | #35,722 |
| 2015 | modern | 34 | #35,756 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras, Winchester Milland, Lambeth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Winchester Milland | Hampshire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Palmar surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Palmar, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Palmar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Palmar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Palmar is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Palmar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Palmar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Palmar originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "Palmer," which referred to a pilgrim who had returned from the Holy Land carrying a palm branch as a symbol of their journey.
Historically, the name Palmar was most prevalent in the southern counties of England, particularly in regions like Dorset, Somerset, and Devon. Some of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in medieval tax rolls and parish records from the 13th and 14th centuries.
One notable historical reference to the name Palmar can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1230, which mention a certain "Robert le Palmer." This suggests that the name was already in use as a surname during this time period.
In the 14th century, records show a John Palmar who was a landowner in the village of Whitchurch, Dorset. Another early bearer of the name was William Palmar, who was born in Somerset around 1420 and served as a member of the local gentry.
As the centuries progressed, the Palmar name spread to other parts of England, with notable individuals including Sir Thomas Palmar (1578-1643), a Member of Parliament for Weymouth during the reign of King Charles I, and Reverend John Palmar (1662-1732), a clergyman and author from Oxfordshire.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the spelling of the surname varied, with variations like "Palmer," "Paylmer," and "Palmere" being recorded in different regions. However, the "Palmar" spelling became more standardized over time.
Other notable bearers of the Palmar surname throughout history include:
1. Edward Palmar (1720-1788), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Somerset. 2. Elizabeth Palmar (1760-1838), a pioneer in the field of women's education and founder of a girls' school in Bath. 3. Sir Robert Palmar (1803-1879), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire. 4. Frederick Palmar (1842-1914), a renowned naturalist and explorer who led expeditions to South America and Africa. 5. Mary Palmar (1876-1958), a celebrated artist and member of the Newlyn School of painters in Cornwall.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Palmar surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Palmars recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 2.25x |
| Shropshire | 7 | 20.26x |
| Surrey | 7 | 3.59x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 7.65x |
| Essex | 4 | 5.07x |
| Banffshire | 2 | 24.10x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.47x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.70x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.21x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.20x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clee St Margaret in Shropshire leads with 7 Palmars recorded in 1881 and an index of 17500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clee St Margaret | 7 | 17500.00x |
| Croydon | 6 | 55.45x |
| Horton | 6 | 12000.00x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 18.64x |
| Aveley | 4 | 3076.92x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 13.38x |
| Rathven | 2 | 128.21x |
| West Malling | 2 | 645.16x |
| Axmouth | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Glenmuick Tullich | 1 | 370.37x |
| Liskeard | 1 | 131.58x |
| Shere | 1 | 416.67x |
| Whaplode Drove | 1 | 909.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Palmar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Palmar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Palmar households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Grocer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Farmar Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Gamekeepers Wife | 1 |
| Grocer & Draper | 1 |
| Public Accountant | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Palmar surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Palmar a modern rank of #35,768.
A surname referring to someone from a palm grove or palm farmer.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Palmar bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.