NameCensus.

UK surname

Prime

A surname derived from the descriptive term "prime" meaning excellent or first-rate.

In the 1881 census there were 1,188 people recorded with the Prime surname, ranking it #3,397 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,649, ranked #3,779, down from #3,397 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newbold Verdon and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Waveney and Hinckley and Bosworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prime is 1,870 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

1,188

Ranked #3,397

Modern count

1,649

2016, ranked #3,779

Peak year

1911

1,870 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prime had 1,188 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,397 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,649 in 2016, ranked #3,779.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,870 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Prime surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prime surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prime 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 901 #3,053
1861 historical 721 #3,771
1881 historical 1,188 #3,397
1891 historical 1,255 #3,438
1901 historical 1,565 #3,292
1911 historical 1,870 #2,645
1997 modern 1,705 #3,497
1998 modern 1,779 #3,485
1999 modern 1,814 #3,448
2000 modern 1,775 #3,501
2001 modern 1,737 #3,500
2002 modern 1,764 #3,532
2003 modern 1,670 #3,637
2004 modern 1,672 #3,630
2005 modern 1,659 #3,617
2006 modern 1,623 #3,699
2007 modern 1,658 #3,654
2008 modern 1,690 #3,618
2009 modern 1,701 #3,666
2010 modern 1,750 #3,649
2011 modern 1,698 #3,702
2012 modern 1,663 #3,718
2013 modern 1,686 #3,733
2014 modern 1,692 #3,734
2015 modern 1,661 #3,767
2016 modern 1,649 #3,779

Geography

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Where Primes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newbold Verdon, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Waveney, Hinckley and Bosworth and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Newbold Verdon Leicestershire
4 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 009 North West Leicestershire
2 Waveney 015 Waveney
3 Hinckley and Bosworth 005 Hinckley and Bosworth
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prime

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prime

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Prime, 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 Prime surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Prime 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Prime is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Prime is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Prime 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 Prime 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 Prime, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Prime

The Prime surname is of English origin, emerging in the late 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "prim," meaning first or foremost. The name likely denoted someone who was considered preeminent or held a position of authority in their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Prime surname appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a census-like record from 1273, where a William Prime is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I.

The Prime surname is also found in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem, a series of inquiries conducted after the death of landholders to determine what lands should be returned to the crown. In a document from 1350, a John Prime is listed as holding lands in Hertfordshire.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Pryme and Pryme, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during that era. One notable example is Thomas Pryme (1452-1521), a merchant and alderman in the city of York.

The Prime surname has been associated with several prominent individuals throughout history. Sir Samuel Prime (1579-1644) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament and played a role in the English Civil War. John Prime (1717-1781) was a British naval officer and explorer who charted parts of the Canadian Arctic.

Another notable figure was William Cowper Prime (1825-1905), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the investment banking firm Prime, Ward & King. He was also a supporter of educational institutions, including Princeton University.

In the literary world, William Cowper Prime's grandson, William C. Prime (1854-1924), was a noted American author and editor who wrote extensively on nature and outdoor life. His works include "Along New England Roads" and "Among the Huguenots."

Additionally, Charles Prime (1825-1915) was a British clergyman and scholar who served as the Principal of Codrington College in Barbados and later became the Regius Professor of Hebrew at the University of Oxford.

Throughout its history, the Prime surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prime families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prime 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 181 Primes recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.93x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 181 24.93x
Middlesex 174 1.52x
Suffolk 144 10.31x
Derbyshire 92 5.13x
Staffordshire 79 2.04x
Warwickshire 63 2.18x
Surrey 50 0.90x
Lancashire 46 0.34x
Norfolk 45 2.55x
Cornwall 36 2.77x
Kent 36 0.92x
Essex 33 1.46x
Hertfordshire 33 4.18x
Bedfordshire 32 5.39x
Leicestershire 31 2.44x
Yorkshire 24 0.21x
Durham 13 0.38x
Huntingdonshire 13 5.71x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.71x
Cheshire 6 0.24x
Lincolnshire 6 0.33x
Northamptonshire 6 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.58x
Gloucestershire 4 0.18x
Sussex 4 0.21x
Glamorgan 3 0.15x
Somerset 2 0.11x
Devon 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Morayshire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrewthe Less in Cambridgeshire leads with 61 Primes recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.55x.

Place Total Index
St Andrewthe Less 61 73.55x
Islington London 30 2.70x
Enfield 25 33.24x
Aston 23 2.89x
Halesworth 20 202.02x
Beccles 19 84.56x
Lambeth 18 1.80x
Barking 17 235.13x
Buxton 15 98.75x
Kensington London 15 2.35x
Youlgreave 15 289.02x
Barrington 14 571.43x
Caddington 14 161.10x
Doveridge 14 512.82x
Hendon 14 33.95x
Swavesey 14 301.08x
Alburgh 12 493.83x
Ardwick 12 9.78x
Bagworth 12 506.33x
Holywell Cum Needingworth 12 421.05x
Luton 12 11.68x
Orwell 12 380.95x
Newington 11 2.60x
Blyford 10 1428.57x
Great Yarmouth 10 6.85x
St Ippollitts 10 251.89x
Barlestone 9 323.74x
Bishop Stortford 9 34.10x
Chesterton 9 40.21x
Cottenham 9 93.26x
Derby St Alkmund 9 16.73x
Greasley 9 25.82x
St Austell 9 20.29x
St Marylebone London 9 1.47x
Bermondsey 8 2.34x
Bromley London 8 3.17x
Burton Upon Trent 8 8.84x
Canterbury St Margaret 8 379.15x
Checkley 8 79.60x
Coddenham 8 250.00x
Heveningham 8 645.16x
St Marythe Less 8 181.41x
Tottenham 8 4.38x
Woolwich 8 5.54x
Aldeby 7 277.78x
Birmingham 7 0.73x
Calton 7 736.84x
Cannock 7 10.37x
Cauldon 7 546.88x
Coventry St Michael 7 7.54x
Creeting All Sts 7 593.22x
Flixton 7 752.69x
Harlton 7 573.77x
Newbold Verdon 7 239.73x
Newcastle Under Lyme 7 10.22x
Norton 7 47.33x
Perranarworthal 7 161.29x
South Shields 7 23.04x
Southwold 7 84.75x
St George In East 7 8.98x
Thriplow 7 386.74x
Uttoxeter 7 35.34x
Bassingbourn 6 56.23x
Bocking 6 44.09x
Burnaston 6 895.52x
Chelsea London 6 1.74x
Clavering 6 146.34x
Farley 6 322.58x
Gosbeck 6 480.00x
Haddenham 6 87.85x
Hitchin 6 16.83x
Methley 6 37.52x
Newton 6 212.77x
Oldham 6 1.37x
Sittingbourne 6 19.43x
St Andrewthe Great 6 63.90x
West Derby 6 1.51x
West Ham 6 1.20x
Withington 6 13.70x
Woodbridge 6 33.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 74
Elizabeth 47
Sarah 47
Emma 23
Ann 21
Eliza 20
Emily 18
Hannah 17
Annie 16
Alice 15
Jane 15
Louisa 13
Martha 12
Florence 11
Harriet 10
Edith 9
Margaret 8
Ada 7
Charlotte 7
Ellen 7
Fanny 7
Catherine 6
Clara 6
Esther 6
Maria 6
Kate 5
Anna 4
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Harriett 4
Rosa 4
Susan 4
Adelaide 3
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Eleanor 3
Eliz. 3
Gertrude 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Rebecca 3
Beatrice 2
Elizath. 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Leah 2
Lillie 2
Lydia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 53
George 35
James 29
Charles 28
Joseph 26
Thomas 25
Arthur 23
Henry 20
Frederick 19
Robert 17
Alfred 15
Richard 13
Walter 13
Harry 12
Samuel 10
Frank 9
Albert 8
Edward 8
Herbert 7
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
Geo. 6
Daniel 5
David 5
Francis 5
Fred. 3
Jacob 3
Luke 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Cornelius 2
Elias 2
Ephraim 2
Isaiah 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
W. 2
Alic 1
Allen 1
Bertie 1
Burrows 1
Edwin 1
Eliot 1
Emanl. 1
Enoch 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Prime surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prime surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,188 people were recorded with the Prime surname. That placed it at #3,397 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prime surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,649 in 2016. That gives Prime a modern rank of #3,779.

What does the Prime surname mean?

A surname derived from the descriptive term "prime" meaning excellent or first-rate.

What does the Prime map show?

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