UK surname
A surname derived from the Latin word "palma" meaning palm tree or victory emblem.
In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Palmes surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #31,170 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Englishcombe, Tiverton, Hornsea with Burton and Belgrave. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Palmes is 176 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.9%.
1881 census count
17
Ranked #31,170
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
176 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Palmes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Palmes 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 | 63 | #22,069 |
| 1861 | historical | 176 | #13,335 |
| 1881 | historical | 17 | #31,170 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 45 | #29,156 |
| 1911 | historical | 61 | #26,724 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 18 | #36,067 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 22 | #36,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 25 | #36,314 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Englishcombe, Tiverton, Hornsea with Burton, Belgrave, Govan Combination and St Pancras. 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 | Englishcombe, Tiverton | Somerset |
| 2 | Hornsea with Burton | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | Belgrave | Leicestershire |
| 4 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Palmes 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 Palmes, 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 Palmes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Palmes 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, Palmes 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 Palmes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Palmes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Palmes is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period. It is derived from the Spanish word "palma," which means "palm tree." The name may have initially been used to denote someone who lived near a palm grove or who worked with palm fronds or products derived from palm trees.
One of the earliest documented mentions of the Palmes surname can be found in the Cartulario de San Millán de la Cogolla, a medieval manuscript from the Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla in La Rioja, Spain. This document, which dates back to the 12th century, contains several references to individuals with the surname Palmes.
During the 13th century, the Palmes name appeared in various historical records in the region of Catalonia, particularly in the city of Barcelona. One notable figure from this era was Bernat Palmes, a merchant and landowner who lived in Barcelona in the late 1200s.
As the name spread across Spain, it also underwent variations in spelling, such as Palmas and Palmés. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.
In the 15th century, the Palmes surname gained prominence in the Kingdom of Aragon, where several members of the family held influential positions. Juan Palmes, born in 1423, was a renowned jurist and legal scholar who served as a judge in the Royal Audiencia of Aragon.
During the 16th century, the Palmes family expanded its reach to the Americas as Spanish conquistadors and settlers ventured to the New World. One notable figure was Pedro Palmes, a conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in 1519.
In the 17th century, the Palmes surname was found in various parts of Spain, including Andalusia and Extremadura. Alonso Palmes, born in 1612 in Seville, was a celebrated poet and playwright whose works contributed significantly to the Golden Age of Spanish literature.
Over the centuries, the Palmes surname has continued to be prevalent in Spain and has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and trade. Notable bearers of the name in more recent times include Manuel Palmes, a Spanish novelist and essayist born in 1876, and Pablo Palmes, a renowned Spanish painter and sculptor who lived from 1906 to 1977.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Palmes 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. Yorkshire leads with 14 Palmes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 14 | 8.53x |
| Essex | 1 | 3.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 3.78x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 2.39x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Escrick in Yorkshire leads with 7 Palmes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Escrick | 7 | 23333.33x |
| Naburn | 3 | 10000.00x |
| York Marygate St Olave | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Aston | 1 | 8.70x |
| Colchester St Botolph | 1 | 357.14x |
| Leeds | 1 | 10.79x |
| Little Ponton | 1 | 10000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Palmes 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 Palmes 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 Palmes households.
FAQ
In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Palmes surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Palmes a modern rank of #36,254.
A surname derived from the Latin word "palma" meaning palm tree or victory emblem.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Palmes 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.