NameCensus.

UK surname

Primmer

A variant of the occupational surname "Primer", referring to one who made or sold primers for books.

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Primmer surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 313, ranked #14,318, down from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Poole St James, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, Plymouth and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Primmer is 354 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.3%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

313

2016, ranked #14,318

Peak year

2002

354 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Primmer had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016, ranked #14,318.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 323 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Primmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Primmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Primmer 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 189 #10,896
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 316 #10,639
1901 historical 287 #12,001
1911 historical 323 #10,842
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 338 #12,829
1999 modern 339 #12,892
2000 modern 344 #12,722
2001 modern 337 #12,702
2002 modern 354 #12,490
2003 modern 340 #12,685
2004 modern 335 #12,870
2005 modern 316 #13,351
2006 modern 312 #13,554
2007 modern 320 #13,442
2008 modern 306 #13,943
2009 modern 325 #13,657
2010 modern 316 #14,198
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 311 #14,368
2014 modern 320 #14,181
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 313 #14,318

Geography

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Where Primmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Poole St James, London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Upham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Plymouth, Powys and Wakefield. 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 Poole St James Dorset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Upham Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 004 Winchester
2 Plymouth 028 Plymouth
3 Winchester 011 Winchester
4 Powys 013 Powys
5 Wakefield 044 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Primmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Primmer

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Primmer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Primmer is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Primmer

The surname Primmer originated in England, specifically in the county of Devon, during the late medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "prem" or "pryme," which referred to a young or small shoot or sprout. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, perhaps referring to a gardener or someone who worked with plants and horticulture.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Primmer can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Devon from 1242, where a certain Roger Primmer is mentioned. The name also appears in various tax records and manorial rolls from the 13th and 14th centuries, often spelled in various ways, such as Prymmer, Primer, or Prymor.

In the 16th century, the name Primmer was associated with the village of Primmerhay, which is located near the town of Axminster in Devon. This place name likely evolved from the combination of the surname Primmer and the Old English word "hæg," meaning an enclosed area or enclosure.

One notable individual with the surname Primmer was Sir William Primmer, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. He was involved in the wool trade and owned several estates in Devon and Somerset.

Another significant figure was Matthew Primmer, born in 1620, who was a prominent Puritan minister and author in New England. He was one of the founders of the town of Malden, Massachusetts, and wrote several influential religious works.

In the 18th century, John Primmer, born in 1712, was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War. He was known for his involvement in several important battles against the French.

During the 19th century, Thomas Primmer, born in 1824, was a successful businessman and industrialist in Birmingham, England. He owned several factories and was instrumental in the development of the city's metal-working industry.

Finally, one of the more recent noteworthy individuals with the surname Primmer was Henry Primmer, born in 1876, who was a renowned botanist and horticulturist. He was particularly known for his work in cultivating and hybridizing various species of roses, and several varieties bear his name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Primmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Primmer 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. Hampshire leads with 117 Primmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.09x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 117 27.09x
Middlesex 30 1.42x
Berkshire 13 8.22x
Sussex 12 3.38x
Somerset 8 2.36x
Surrey 8 0.78x
Devon 6 1.37x
Lincolnshire 5 1.48x
Dorset 4 2.89x
Staffordshire 4 0.56x
Wiltshire 3 1.61x
Hertfordshire 2 1.38x
Royal Navy 2 7.97x
Northamptonshire 1 0.50x
Shropshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopstoke in Hampshire leads with 15 Primmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1351.35x.

Place Total Index
Bishopstoke 15 1351.35x
Millbrook 15 137.87x
Portsea 11 13.00x
Upham 9 1914.89x
East Stratton 8 3200.00x
Bromley London 7 15.10x
Southampton St Mary 7 25.77x
Dibden 6 1666.67x
North Mundham 6 1714.29x
Ruscombe 6 2222.22x
Stoke Newington London 6 36.56x
Bath St James 5 141.24x
Botley 5 641.03x
Earley 5 190.11x
East Stonehouse 5 57.87x
Hackney London 5 4.23x
Hamble Le Rice 5 1666.67x
St Michael Lincoln 5 549.45x
Bishops Waltham 4 222.22x
Cheriton 4 909.09x
Durley 4 1176.47x
Lambeth 4 2.18x
Paddington London 4 5.16x
Poole St James 4 76.92x
Wolverhampton 4 7.32x
Blendworth 3 1428.57x
Devizes St John 3 214.29x
South Stoneham 3 32.02x
Titchfield 3 92.31x
Ventnor 3 72.99x
Yapton 3 750.00x
Bow London 2 7.46x
Chelsea London 2 3.15x
Fareham 2 38.54x
Idsworth 2 689.66x
Royal Navy 2 9.32x
Watford 2 17.76x
Basingstoke 1 20.12x
Bathwick 1 26.67x
Battersea 1 1.29x
Brighton 1 1.40x
Caterham 1 22.03x
Charlwood 1 102.04x
Chiswick 1 8.69x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.01x
Cookham 1 20.28x
Holdenhurst 1 8.83x
Hurst 1 48.31x
Lamport 1 833.33x
Lewes All Sts 1 70.92x
Longdon On Tern 1 1000.00x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 11.26x
Merstham 1 153.85x
Overton 1 97.09x
Petworth 1 47.17x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.96x
Portsmouth 1 10.06x
Shanklin 1 77.52x
Southampton Holy Rood 1 232.56x
St Andrew Holborn 1 14.01x
St Faith Winchester 1 49.75x
St Helens 1 31.85x
Tottenham 1 2.98x
Weston 1 38.31x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
Henry 12
George 10
John 9
Charles 8
Albert 6
James 5
Thomas 5
Richard 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Samuel 2
W. 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Edmond 1
Edwd.G. 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Oscar 1
Rich. 1
Sidney 1
Water 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Primmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Primmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Primmer surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Primmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016. That gives Primmer a modern rank of #14,318.

What does the Primmer surname mean?

A variant of the occupational surname "Primer", referring to one who made or sold primers for books.

What does the Primmer map show?

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