NameCensus.

UK surname

Pimble

An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name.

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Pimble surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 67, ranked #33,884, down from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and Ross Foreign and Ross Borough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pimble is 100 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.6%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

67

2016, ranked #33,884

Peak year

1901

100 bearers

Map years

1

1901 to 1901

Key insights

  • Pimble had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016, ranked #33,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 100 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

Pimble surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pimble surname density by area, 1901 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pimble 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 89 #25,542
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 70 #30,618
1998 modern 62 #31,735
1999 modern 71 #31,036
2000 modern 72 #30,977
2001 modern 68 #31,195
2002 modern 72 #31,269
2003 modern 69 #31,587
2004 modern 64 #32,286
2005 modern 68 #32,097
2006 modern 74 #31,850
2007 modern 71 #32,484
2008 modern 71 #32,753
2009 modern 71 #33,102
2010 modern 70 #33,480
2011 modern 60 #34,202
2012 modern 71 #33,573
2013 modern 73 #33,557
2014 modern 73 #33,587
2015 modern 65 #34,036
2016 modern 67 #33,884

Geography

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Where Pimbles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Ross Foreign and Ross Borough, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight and Cheltenham. 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.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 Ross Foreign and Ross Borough Herefordshire
4 Merthyr Dovan, Highlight Glamorganshire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pimble

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

Recent female names

No Forenames Found

Recent male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pimble

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the Pimble surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pimble household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, Pimble 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

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pimble is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Pimble, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pimble

The surname Pimble likely originates from England, with historical roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is thought to be locational, derived from a geographical feature or place. It is most probably connected to an area or settlement, yet the exact place of origin remains elusive. The name bears resemblance to old English words and spellings, such as "pinn" meaning hill or point and "beal" meaning a place. Together, these elements might suggest a place on a hill or a prominent landmark.

Historical references to the name Pimble are scant, but early occurrences indicate its presence in old English records. One of the earliest documented instances of the surname appears in the 14th century, where a William de Pimble is mentioned in a manorial roll in Worcestershire. The maintenance of manorial rolls and records in medieval England was crucial for tax and feudal obligations, and William's mention signifies a recognized, possibly land-owning status.

By the 16th century, the name had spread to various parts of England. In the West Midlands, a John Pimble appears in parish registers in 1540, signifying broader usage and geographical spread. Parish registers were among the primary documents for recording births, marriages, and deaths in the Tudor period, indicating that the name had entrenched itself in English society.

Another notable individual is Thomas Pimble, recorded in the late 17th century as a tradesman in London. Born in 1643 and passing in 1690, Thomas's life intersected with the transformative period of the English Restoration, suggesting the family's adaptation to urban life and possibly indicating a transition from rural origins to city dwelling.

In the 18th century, the name appears in emigration records with Elizabeth Pimble, born 1750, who traveled to the American colonies. Elizabeth's movement is part of the broader British immigration wave to North America during this era, reflecting the surname's presence among the pioneers of the New World.

The Pimble surname also appears in notable records from the 19th century. George Pimble, a farmer recorded in the 1820 agricultural census in the Midlands, signifies continued rural ties and agricultural lineage. His life and work during the Industrial Revolution era highlight the persistence and evolution of the name through England's significant socio-economic changes.

Each instance of the surname Pimble through these historical figures not only documents the lineage and adaptation of the family but also carves out a niche in the historical tapestry of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pimble families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pimble 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. Gloucestershire leads with 15 Pimbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.34x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 15 16.34x
Worcestershire 10 16.36x
Warwickshire 9 7.63x
Herefordshire 6 31.27x
Kent 3 1.88x
Berkshire 2 5.69x
Monmouthshire 2 5.91x
Lancashire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Claines in Worcestershire leads with 10 Pimbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 595.24x.

Place Total Index
Claines 10 595.24x
Aston 8 24.62x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 357.14x
Ross 4 526.32x
Gloucester Barton St 3 555.56x
Ash Next Sandwich 2 571.43x
Cheltenham 2 28.25x
Monmouth 2 222.22x
New Windsor 2 169.49x
Twining 2 1428.57x
Ashleworth 1 1250.00x
Birmingham 1 2.54x
Charlton Kings 1 156.25x
Hampton Bishop 1 2500.00x
Kirkdale 1 10.71x
Minster In Thanet 1 303.03x
Much Marcle 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Emily 3
Alice 2
Fanny 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Charlote 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pimble 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 Pimble households.

FAQ

Pimble surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pimble surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Pimble surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pimble surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 67 in 2016. That gives Pimble a modern rank of #33,884.

What does the Pimble surname mean?

An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name.

What does the Pimble map show?

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