NameCensus.

UK surname

Phimister

An occupational surname likely referring to a physician or surgeon.

In the 1881 census there were 184 people recorded with the Phimister surname, ranking it #13,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 348, ranked #13,233, up from #13,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, Elgin and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Inverness West Rural, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock and Buckie West and Mains of Buckie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Phimister is 357 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.1%.

1881 census count

184

Ranked #13,551

Modern count

348

2016, ranked #13,233

Peak year

2010

357 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Phimister had 184 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 348 in 2016, ranked #13,233.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 238 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Phimister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Phimister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Phimister 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 105 #20,298
1881 historical 184 #13,551
1891 historical 234 #13,352
1901 historical 238 #13,528
1911 historical 56 #27,216
1997 modern 322 #12,914
1998 modern 338 #12,829
1999 modern 335 #12,993
2000 modern 343 #12,746
2001 modern 331 #12,869
2002 modern 345 #12,754
2003 modern 339 #12,714
2004 modern 347 #12,516
2005 modern 339 #12,668
2006 modern 323 #13,205
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 332 #13,207
2009 modern 339 #13,281
2010 modern 357 #13,036
2011 modern 346 #13,192
2012 modern 335 #13,408
2013 modern 340 #13,449
2014 modern 350 #13,263
2015 modern 345 #13,312
2016 modern 348 #13,233

Geography

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Where Phimisters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, Elgin, Edinburgh, Rathven and Boyndie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Inverness West Rural, Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock, Buckie West and Mains of Buckie, Buckie Central East and Skye South. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wick Caithness
2 Elgin Elgin
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Rathven Banff
5 Boyndie Banff

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Inverness West Rural Highland
2 Cullen, Portknockie, Findochty, Drybridge and Berryhillock Moray
3 Buckie West and Mains of Buckie Moray
4 Buckie Central East Moray
5 Skye South Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Phimister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Phimister

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Phimister surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Phimister household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Phimister is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Phimister is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Phimister falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Phimister 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 Phimister, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Phimister

The surname Phimister has its origins in Scotland, where it first appeared in the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "fynn" meaning "marsh" or "fen," and "mæstra," meaning "one who has authority over." Together, these words form the meaning "keeper of the fen or marsh."

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Phimister can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a collection of written agreements made between King Edward I of England and Scottish nobles. The name appears as "Phymester," suggesting that this was an early spelling variation.

In the 15th century, the name Phimister began to appear in various Scottish charters and land records, particularly in the areas around Aberdeen and Angus. This indicates that the name was well-established in these regions during this time period.

A notable figure with the surname Phimister was John Phimister, who lived in the late 16th century and was a wealthy landowner in Aberdeenshire. Records show that he owned several estates and was a prominent member of the local community.

Another individual of note was Robert Phimister, born in 1642 in Banff, Scotland. He was a skilled stonemason and was responsible for the construction of several churches and public buildings in the area.

In the 18th century, the name Phimister began to spread beyond Scotland, with some bearers of the name emigrating to England and Ireland. One such individual was William Phimister, born in 1712 in Edinburgh, who later settled in County Antrim, Ireland, where he worked as a farmer.

The 19th century saw the name Phimister appearing in various parts of the British Empire, as some members of the family sought new opportunities abroad. James Phimister, born in 1822 in Aberdeen, was an explorer and surveyor who worked for the British East India Company in India.

Another notable figure was Margaret Phimister, born in 1851 in Dundee, Scotland. She was a pioneering educator and was instrumental in establishing several schools for girls in South Africa during the late 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Phimister has maintained its strong connection to Scotland, with many bearers of the name still residing in the country today. While the name may not be as common as some others, it holds a rich history and a unique connection to the Scottish landscape and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Phimister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Phimister 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. Caithness leads with 43 Phimisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 175.94x.

County Total Index
Caithness 43 175.94x
Morayshire 36 129.82x
Banffshire 30 81.02x
Midlothian 22 9.20x
Inverness-shire 11 20.63x
Aberdeenshire 8 4.84x
Angus 8 4.84x
Argyllshire 5 10.06x
Orkney 5 25.46x
Lanarkshire 3 0.52x
Berwickshire 2 9.25x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 1.25x
Ross-shire 1 2.04x
Selkirkshire 1 6.19x
Surrey 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wick in Caithness leads with 32 Phimisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 405.58x.

Place Total Index
Wick 32 405.58x
Rathven 19 272.99x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 16.63x
Elgin 13 240.74x
Duffus 9 368.85x
Watten 9 1046.51x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 8 25.86x
Inverness 8 59.66x
Kilmallie 5 195.31x
Kirkwall St Ola 5 170.07x
New Spynie 5 500.00x
St Vigeans 5 55.99x
Dallas 4 714.29x
Keith 4 101.27x
Banff 3 93.17x
Glasgow 3 2.93x
Kilmorack 3 185.19x
Dundee 2 3.24x
Edinburgh St Andrews 2 101.52x
Gordon 2 392.16x
Grange 2 185.19x
Hatfield In Thorne 2 181.82x
Knockando 2 176.99x
Latheron 2 48.90x
Toxteth Park 2 2.79x
Cromdale 1 44.84x
Deskford 1 188.68x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 16.42x
Edinburgh New 1 53.76x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 20.16x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 21.23x
Edinkillie 1 138.89x
Inveravon 1 63.29x
Little Dunkeld 1 73.53x
Melrose 1 24.63x
Monifieth 1 17.12x
Poplar London 1 2.97x
Tooting Graveney 1 41.32x
Uig 1 45.05x
Urquhart 1 76.34x
West Hoathly 1 105.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Andrew 1
George 1
Jno. 1
William 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 Phimister households.

FAQ

Phimister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Phimister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 184 people were recorded with the Phimister surname. That placed it at #13,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Phimister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 348 in 2016. That gives Phimister a modern rank of #13,233.

What does the Phimister surname mean?

An occupational surname likely referring to a physician or surgeon.

What does the Phimister map show?

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