NameCensus.

UK surname

Pilmer

A variant spelling of the surname Palmer, referring to a pilgrim or traveler.

In the 1881 census there were 73 people recorded with the Pilmer surname, ranking it #23,220 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 148, ranked #23,958, down from #23,220 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duns, Cawood and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carlisle, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pilmer is 155 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.7%.

1881 census count

73

Ranked #23,220

Modern count

148

2016, ranked #23,958

Peak year

2012

155 bearers

Map years

6

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pilmer had 73 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,220 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016, ranked #23,958.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pilmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pilmer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pilmer 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 104 #20,477
1881 historical 73 #23,220
1891 historical 118 #21,540
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 77 #25,106
1997 modern 146 #21,494
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 136 #22,855
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 145 #22,289
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 134 #24,249
2009 modern 140 #24,033
2010 modern 142 #24,352
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 154 #23,210
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 148 #23,958

Geography

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Where Pilmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duns, Cawood, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carlisle, East Riding of Yorkshire and South Cambridgeshire. 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 Duns Berwick
2 Cawood Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carlisle 009 Carlisle
2 Carlisle 010 Carlisle
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 013 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 South Cambridgeshire 003 South Cambridgeshire
5 Carlisle 008 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pilmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pilmer

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Pilmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pilmer 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pilmer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pilmer is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pilmer falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pilmer

The surname Pilmer traces its origins to England, emerging during the Medieval period. It is believed that the name is derived from the Middle English words "pylle" and "mere," which mean a pool or pond and a lake or body of water, respectively. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a notable pool or lake.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Pilmer appears in the 13th century. It is documented in the Curia Regis rolls, which were legal documents that recorded court proceedings in England. Specifically, Thomas de Pilmer is mentioned in a record dated 1263, indicating the name's usage in legal and social contexts during that time.

There are several locations within England that may have influenced the surname Pilmer. One example is the village of Pilmoor in North Yorkshire, which might have contributed to the name's evolution. Historical place names and their variations often impacted the surnames of individuals living nearby, reflecting geographic features and local language influences.

The surname Pilmer also appears in the York Archbishops' Registers. In 1395, John Pilmer is listed as a witness to a legal transaction. These registers provide evidence of the name's sustained presence in documentation and its association with various societal roles and activities.

Throughout history, notable individuals with the surname Pilmer have made their marks. For instance, Robert Pilmer (born 1482) was a prominent figure in medieval Yorkshire, known for his role as a landowner and community leader. In the 17th century, Elizabeth Pilmer (born 1604) is recorded as a benefactor to her local parish, contributing to the construction of a new church.

In the 18th century, William Pilmer (born 1720) gained recognition as a pioneering farmer who implemented innovative agricultural techniques in Staffordshire. His efforts in crop rotation and soil management helped improve local farming practices and contributed to the Agricultural Revolution in England. The 19th century saw Henry Pilmer (1785–1852) as a well-known Methodist preacher whose sermons and writings inspired many in his congregation.

The Pilmer surname has thus traversed centuries, rooted in its English origins and branching out through historical records, notable personalities, and geographic connections. Each mention and record add to the rich tapestry of its etymological and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pilmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pilmer 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. Yorkshire leads with 24 Pilmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.36x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 24 3.36x
Berwickshire 17 194.51x
Herefordshire 13 43.93x
Northumberland 9 8.38x
Angus 4 5.98x
Warwickshire 3 1.65x
Durham 2 0.93x
Middlesex 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunse in Berwickshire leads with 17 Pilmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2048.19x.

Place Total Index
Dunse 17 2048.19x
Hereford St Owen 13 1326.53x
Tynemouth 9 156.52x
Wortley In Bramley 6 106.01x
Bradford 4 23.11x
Dundee 4 16.03x
Aston 3 5.99x
Wombwell 3 144.23x
Woolley 3 2000.00x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 2 235.29x
Hett 2 2500.00x
New Malton 2 235.29x
Cawood 1 370.37x
Kensington London 1 2.49x
Kinver 1 142.86x
Old Malton 1 222.22x
Salton 1 2500.00x
York St Mary 1 33.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Annie 3
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth.A. 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
M.A. 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

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 Pilmer households.

FAQ

Pilmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pilmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 73 people were recorded with the Pilmer surname. That placed it at #23,220 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pilmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 148 in 2016. That gives Pilmer a modern rank of #23,958.

What does the Pilmer surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Palmer, referring to a pilgrim or traveler.

What does the Pilmer map show?

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