NameCensus.

UK surname

Primrose

A surname derived from the primrose flower, often given to those living near a primrose field.

In the 1881 census there were 390 people recorded with the Primrose surname, ranking it #8,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 588, ranked #8,855, down from #8,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, Trunch and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arran, IZ01 and Easterhouse East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Primrose is 652 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.8%.

1881 census count

390

Ranked #8,104

Modern count

588

2016, ranked #8,855

Peak year

2000

652 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Primrose had 390 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016, ranked #8,855.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 493 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Primrose surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Primrose surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Primrose 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 343 #6,861
1861 historical 346 #7,377
1881 historical 390 #8,104
1891 historical 460 #7,953
1901 historical 493 #8,133
1911 historical 123 #20,128
1997 modern 601 #8,133
1998 modern 626 #8,144
1999 modern 636 #8,095
2000 modern 652 #7,916
2001 modern 627 #8,005
2002 modern 621 #8,244
2003 modern 622 #8,099
2004 modern 600 #8,346
2005 modern 582 #8,450
2006 modern 579 #8,509
2007 modern 595 #8,407
2008 modern 595 #8,474
2009 modern 609 #8,494
2010 modern 613 #8,647
2011 modern 595 #8,748
2012 modern 570 #8,932
2013 modern 567 #9,093
2014 modern 576 #9,058
2015 modern 583 #8,925
2016 modern 588 #8,855

Geography

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Where Primroses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, Trunch, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arran, IZ01, Easterhouse East, Earnock and Midstocket. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Inveresk Edinburgh
2 Trunch Norfolk
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arran North Ayrshire
2 IZ01 East Lothian
3 Easterhouse East Glasgow City
4 Earnock South Lanarkshire
5 Midstocket Aberdeen City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Primrose

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Primrose

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Primrose surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Primrose household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Primrose 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

Primrose is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Primrose falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Primrose is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Primrose

The surname PRIMROSE is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from various places in England, such as Primrose Hill in London and Primrose Hill in Lancashire, where the primrose flower grew abundantly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a William de Primerosa. This spelling variation suggests that the name was initially associated with the primrose flower or a place where it thrived.

The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, which lists a Richard de Primerose. This record highlights the evolution of the spelling from the earlier form 'Primerosa' to the more recognizable 'Primerose'.

In the 14th century, the surname PRIMROSE gained prominence with the birth of John Primrose (c. 1350 - c. 1420), a Scottish clergyman and diplomat who served as the Bishop of Glasgow and played a crucial role in negotiating the release of King James I from English captivity.

Another notable figure bearing this surname was Sir Archibald Primrose (1616 - 1679), a Scottish politician and judge who served as Lord Clerk Register and Lord Justice Clerk under King Charles II. He was also a member of the Privy Council and played a significant role in the administration of Scotland during the Restoration period.

In the literary realm, the name PRIMROSE is associated with the character Primrose Camilla Franconia, who appeared in the 1766 novel 'The Vicar of Wakefield' by Oliver Goldsmith. This fictional character's name was likely inspired by the primrose flower, which was a popular symbol of innocence and purity at the time.

Another notable bearer of the surname was James Primrose (1598 - 1641), a Scottish minister and academic who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow. He was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and played a significant role in the religious debates and controversies of his time.

The surname PRIMROSE has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Primrose Hill in London and Primrose Hill in Lancashire, further solidifying its connection to the primrose flower and its geographic origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Primrose families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Primrose 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. Lanarkshire leads with 122 Primroses recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.89x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 122 9.89x
Midlothian 51 9.98x
Middlesex 28 0.73x
Norfolk 27 4.60x
Lancashire 16 0.35x
Dunbartonshire 15 14.63x
Renfrewshire 12 4.06x
Somerset 12 1.95x
Perthshire 11 6.43x
Stirlingshire 11 7.82x
Surrey 11 0.59x
Fife 9 3.99x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 14.49x
Aberdeenshire 6 1.70x
Banffshire 6 7.58x
Dumfriesshire 6 7.12x
Ayrshire 5 1.75x
Inverness-shire 4 3.51x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Argyllshire 3 2.83x
Buteshire 3 12.98x
Hampshire 3 0.38x
Isle of Man 2 2.82x
Monmouthshire 2 0.73x
Royal Navy 2 4.40x
Berkshire 1 0.35x
Cheshire 1 0.12x
Clackmannanshire 1 3.17x
Devon 1 0.13x
Essex 1 0.13x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Nairnshire 1 8.59x
Ross-shire 1 0.95x
Selkirkshire 1 2.90x
West Lothian 1 1.74x
Wigtownshire 1 1.97x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 47 Primroses recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.06x.

Place Total Index
Barony 47 15.06x
Govan 40 13.11x
Glasgow 26 11.87x
Trunch 16 2711.86x
Inveresk 14 101.23x
North Leith 11 46.51x
Bonhill 10 60.79x
Paisley High Church 9 38.25x
Pensford St Thomas 9 2571.43x
Airth 8 446.93x
Lambeth 8 2.41x
South Leith 8 13.91x
Blantyre 7 54.52x
Broughton In Salford 7 16.92x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 3.41x
St Marylebone London 7 3.44x
Duddingston 6 58.48x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 6.78x
Ferry Port On Craig 5 134.77x
Largs 5 74.29x
Little Bolton 5 8.59x
Rothiemay 5 279.33x
St George Hanover 5 10.04x
Troqueer 5 69.06x
Daviot Dunlichity 4 243.90x
Gimingham 4 1111.11x
Heigham 4 12.71x
Paddington London 4 2.85x
Tulliallan 4 137.93x
Auchterderran 3 52.82x
Bedminster 3 5.20x
Closeburn 3 153.06x
Dumfries 3 36.10x
Dunoon Kilmun 3 36.23x
Edinburgh Greenside S 3 162.16x
Islington London 3 0.81x
Kirkbean 3 283.02x
Logie 3 48.86x
Newton 3 8.60x
Paisley Low Church 3 32.05x
Sheffield 3 2.49x
St Pancras London 3 0.98x
Bothkennar 2 47.62x
Epsom 2 22.08x
Forteviot 2 243.90x
Kirkintilloch 2 14.37x
Newport 2 15.21x
Row 2 15.08x
Rushen 2 41.75x
Ventnor 2 26.88x
Arngask 1 140.85x
Auchindoir Kearn 1 50.51x
Aylsham 1 28.65x
Bow London 1 2.06x
Bute North 1 64.10x
Cambuslang 1 8.04x
Cringleford 1 344.83x
Deskford 1 88.50x
Dumbarton 1 7.01x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 10.07x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 9.94x
Great Wakering 1 59.52x
Kensington London 1 0.47x
Liverpool 1 0.36x
Melksham 1 17.06x
Melrose 1 11.52x
Nairn 1 14.16x
New Monkland 1 2.74x
North Walsham 1 23.64x
Perth East Church 1 6.20x
Perth St Pauls 1 25.25x
Reedness 1 153.85x
Rothesay 1 8.94x
Royal Navy 1 2.57x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 22.88x
St George In East 1 3.86x
Stirling 1 5.64x
Uphall 1 15.82x
Westminster St 1 7.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Margaret 4
Ann 3
Jane 3
Mary 3
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Margret 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Carolina 1
Caroline 1
Claudina 1
Claudine 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Euphemia 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frederica 1
Hannah 1
Janet 1
Jennet 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Philip 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Sybil 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 7
George 5
James 5
Edward 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Percy 2
Aaron 1
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Bonvene 1
David 1
F. 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Ralph 1
Walter 1
Waylett 1

FAQ

Primrose surname: questions and answers

How common was the Primrose surname in 1881?

In 1881, 390 people were recorded with the Primrose surname. That placed it at #8,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Primrose surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 588 in 2016. That gives Primrose a modern rank of #8,855.

What does the Primrose surname mean?

A surname derived from the primrose flower, often given to those living near a primrose field.

What does the Primrose map show?

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