UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a worker who installs and repairs piping and plumbing fixtures.
In the 1881 census there were 231 people recorded with the Plumber surname, ranking it #11,722 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 35, ranked #35,703, down from #11,722 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Glossop, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plumber is 231 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.8%.
1881 census count
231
Ranked #11,722
Modern count
35
2016, ranked #35,703
Peak year
1881
231 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Plumber surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Plumber surname density by area, 1881 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 | 187 | #10,978 |
| 1861 | historical | 230 | #10,611 |
| 1881 | historical | 231 | #11,722 |
| 1891 | historical | 221 | #13,897 |
| 1901 | historical | 117 | #20,830 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 44 | #33,462 |
| 1999 | modern | 48 | #33,233 |
| 2000 | modern | 49 | #33,187 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 29 | #35,129 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 28 | #35,510 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 34 | #35,410 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 53 | #34,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 56 | #34,450 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 35 | #35,703 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Glossop, St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Edinburgh and Lambeth. 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 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Plumber 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 Plumber, 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 Plumber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Plumber 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, Plumber 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 Plumber is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Plumber, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Plumber has its origins in England, arising during the Middle Ages. It is an occupational surname, derived from the Old French word "plombier," meaning a worker in lead or a plumber. This term ultimately finds its roots in the Latin word "plumbum," meaning lead.
During the medieval period, plumbers were skilled artisans responsible for installing and maintaining lead pipes for water supply and drainage systems. The name Plumber emerged as a way to identify individuals engaged in this trade, with the earliest recorded instances appearing in English records from the 13th century.
One of the earliest known references to the name Plumber can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a William le Plomer. Another early record is the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, listing a John le Plummer.
In the 14th century, the surname Plumber is recorded in various manuscripts and documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire from 1332, which mentions a Walter le Plomer. Additionally, the Poll Tax returns of Yorkshire from 1379 include an entry for Johannes Plummer.
Notable individuals with the surname Plumber throughout history include Sir Thomas Plummer (1753-1824), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament. John Plummer (1644-1722) was an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
Another prominent figure was Charles Plummer (1851-1927), an English historian and scholar who specialized in Anglo-Saxon literature and history. His work on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People is highly regarded.
In the 19th century, Sir Walter Plummer (1837-1923) was a notable British architect responsible for designing several prominent buildings in London, including the Royal College of Music and the Athenaeum Club.
The name Plummer has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Plummer's Hill in Sussex and Plummer's Park in Hertfordshire, further reflecting the historical presence of individuals with this occupational surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plumber 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 57 Plumbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 57 | 2.56x |
| Lancashire | 26 | 0.99x |
| Yorkshire | 20 | 0.91x |
| Surrey | 19 | 1.75x |
| Kent | 14 | 1.84x |
| Durham | 12 | 1.81x |
| Herefordshire | 10 | 10.96x |
| Cambridgeshire | 9 | 6.39x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 2.30x |
| Hampshire | 6 | 1.32x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 1.99x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 1.15x |
| Essex | 4 | 0.91x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 1.03x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 1.17x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.40x |
| Sussex | 3 | 0.80x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.53x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 1.04x |
| Fife | 2 | 1.52x |
| Huntingdonshire | 2 | 4.53x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 0.67x |
| Somerset | 2 | 0.56x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.22x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.65x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.28x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 17 Plumbers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.77x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Plumber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 16 |
| Sarah | 12 |
| Emma | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Annie | 4 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Charlotte | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Jessie | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Eliz. | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Rosina | 2 |
| Selina | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Cathren | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elizth | 1 |
| Emmie | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Georgeana | 1 |
| Georgiana | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Kessia | 1 |
| Lawrena | 1 |
| Lottie | 1 |
| Lousia | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Minne | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Pollie | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Plumber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 16 |
| John | 12 |
| Henry | 7 |
| James | 5 |
| Thomas | 5 |
| Arthur | 4 |
| George | 4 |
| Robert | 4 |
| Albert | 2 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Charles | 2 |
| Fredk. | 2 |
| Sidney | 2 |
| Walter | 2 |
| Wm. | 2 |
| A. | 1 |
| A.W. | 1 |
| Alfread | 1 |
| Ambrose | 1 |
| Auther | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edgar | 1 |
| Edward | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Henrey | 1 |
| Hubert | 1 |
| Hy. | 1 |
| J.Thos. | 1 |
| Jonathon | 1 |
| Joseph | 1 |
| Levi | 1 |
| Luke | 1 |
| Nicholas | 1 |
| Phillip | 1 |
| R.A. | 1 |
| Samuel | 1 |
| Silas | 1 |
| Wesly | 1 |
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 Plumber households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 48 |
| Domestic Servant | 4 |
| Labourer | 4 |
| No Occupation | 3 |
| Servant | 3 |
| Staymaker | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Beer House Keeper | 2 |
| Bricklayer | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Cook | 2 |
| Cotton Weaver | 2 |
| General Serv | 2 |
| Iron Miner | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Seaman | 2 |
| Warehouseman (CM) | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Boot Finisher | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Carver At Hotel | 1 |
| Chamber Maid Domestic | 1 |
| Chambermaid | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller (Bo...) | 1 |
| Convalescent Patient | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Corporal Ord Store Department (Soldier) | 1 |
| Cotton Agent | 1 |
| Dairyman | 1 |
| Dock Foreman | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Dramatic & Musical Agent | 1 |
| Fruiterer | 1 |
| Gen | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Goldbeater | 1 |
| Governess (Prof) | 1 |
| Governess School | 1 |
| Greengrocer | 1 |
| Greengrocers Wife | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| House & Parlor Maid | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Worstd Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 231 people were recorded with the Plumber surname. That placed it at #11,722 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 35 in 2016. That gives Plumber a modern rank of #35,703.
An occupational surname referring to a worker who installs and repairs piping and plumbing fixtures.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Plumber 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.