NameCensus.

UK surname

Pym

An occupational surname of English origin derived from the Old French "parmenter" meaning a tailor or cloth-trimmer.

In the 1881 census there were 740 people recorded with the Pym surname, ranking it #4,951 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 933, ranked #6,126, down from #4,951 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Topsham, Duffield and Tormoham with Torquay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Exeter, Basingstoke and Deane and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pym is 1,037 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.1%.

1881 census count

740

Ranked #4,951

Modern count

933

2016, ranked #6,126

Peak year

1999

1,037 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pym had 740 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,951 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 933 in 2016, ranked #6,126.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 826 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pym surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pym surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pym 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 441 #5,582
1881 historical 740 #4,951
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 826 #5,476
1997 modern 987 #5,561
1998 modern 1,026 #5,561
1999 modern 1,037 #5,542
2000 modern 1,033 #5,534
2001 modern 1,003 #5,568
2002 modern 1,034 #5,544
2003 modern 1,009 #5,550
2004 modern 999 #5,607
2005 modern 981 #5,631
2006 modern 952 #5,786
2007 modern 960 #5,797
2008 modern 972 #5,773
2009 modern 990 #5,809
2010 modern 1,001 #5,880
2011 modern 975 #5,925
2012 modern 955 #5,946
2013 modern 955 #6,050
2014 modern 952 #6,114
2015 modern 942 #6,111
2016 modern 933 #6,126

Geography

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Where Pyms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Topsham, Duffield, Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Exeter, Basingstoke and Deane, Rotherham, Torbay and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Topsham Devon
2 Duffield Derbyshire
3 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Exeter 015 Exeter
2 Basingstoke and Deane 015 Basingstoke and Deane
3 Rotherham 026 Rotherham
4 Torbay 001 Torbay
5 Cheshire West and Chester 022 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pym

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pym

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pym is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pym is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pym

The surname Pym is an English surname that originated in Cambridgeshire, England in the late 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "pynd" which referred to an enclosure or pound for confining stray animals. It is believed that the name originally referred to someone who lived near or worked at such an enclosure.

Records show that the earliest known bearer of the name was William Pym, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1198. The name also appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were early census-like records of households and landowners.

The Pym surname can be found in various medieval manuscripts and records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a place called "Pympyn" in Cambridgeshire. This place name is likely related to the surname's origins.

One of the earliest and most notable individuals with the Pym surname was John Pym (1584-1643), an English parliamentarian and leading member of the Long Parliament during the English Civil War. He played a significant role in the impeachment of the Earl of Strafford and the passing of the Grand Remonstrance.

Another prominent figure with the Pym surname was Sir Robert Pym (1616-1661), an English lawyer and politician who was appointed Attorney General during the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell. He was instrumental in the trial and execution of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, John Pym (1717-1788) was a noted English engraver and illustrator, known for his works in the field of natural history. He produced illustrations for various publications, including works by Mark Catesby and George Edwards.

The Pym surname also has literary connections, with the English novelist and playwright Horace Pym (1844-1896) being a notable bearer of the name. He is best known for his novel "The Way of the World" and several successful plays.

In the 20th century, the British author Barbara Pym (1913-1980) gained recognition for her witty and satirical novels, including "Excellent Women" and "A Glass of Blessings." Her works often explored the lives of middle-class Englishwomen and their relationships.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pym families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pym 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. Devon leads with 159 Pyms recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.54x.

County Total Index
Devon 159 10.54x
Middlesex 81 1.12x
Leicestershire 52 6.47x
Derbyshire 51 4.49x
Lancashire 44 0.51x
Somerset 44 3.77x
Buckinghamshire 38 8.67x
Surrey 38 1.08x
Cheshire 31 1.94x
Berkshire 28 5.15x
Yorkshire 23 0.32x
Kent 19 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 18 1.84x
Staffordshire 13 0.53x
Monmouthshire 10 1.91x
Worcestershire 10 1.06x
Oxfordshire 9 2.01x
Durham 8 0.37x
Gloucestershire 7 0.49x
Lincolnshire 7 0.60x
Bedfordshire 6 1.60x
Lanarkshire 6 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.09x
Dorset 5 1.05x
Northumberland 5 0.46x
Warwickshire 5 0.27x
Glamorgan 4 0.32x
Wiltshire 4 0.62x
Cornwall 3 0.37x
Hertfordshire 3 0.60x
Suffolk 2 0.23x
Sussex 2 0.16x
Buteshire 1 2.28x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 1.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Topsham in Devon leads with 73 Pyms recorded in 1881 and an index of 1025.28x.

Place Total Index
Topsham 73 1025.28x
Tormoham 26 40.73x
Belper 21 95.45x
Cookham 18 106.13x
Nottingham St Mary 17 6.73x
Wycombe 17 52.05x
St Pancras London 16 2.74x
Frisby On The Wreake 14 1428.57x
Lancaster 14 27.36x
Lambeth 13 2.06x
Littleham 12 108.79x
Kensington London 11 2.73x
Crumpsall 10 49.33x
Dukinfield 10 13.53x
Oakley 10 961.54x
West Drayton 9 360.00x
Bethnal Green London 8 2.54x
Buckland St Mary 8 529.80x
Leeds 8 1.97x
Leighton In Nantwich 8 1860.47x
Upottery 8 441.99x
Walsall Foreign 8 6.33x
Westoe 8 6.55x
Bedminster 7 6.39x
Blackburn 7 3.06x
Burland 7 429.45x
Curry Mallet 7 578.51x
Garsington 7 463.58x
Roystone 7 249.11x
Derby St Alkmund 6 17.64x
Ilchester 6 355.03x
Kegworth 6 112.36x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.06x
Litchurch 6 13.14x
Payhembury 6 555.56x
Reigate Foreign 6 15.69x
Twyford 6 566.04x
Withycombe Rawleigh 6 76.34x
Belgrave 5 27.56x
Bengeworth 5 153.37x
Cowpen 5 20.14x
Denby 5 144.51x
Derby St Peter 5 13.84x
Folkestone 5 10.42x
Govan 5 0.86x
Hawkchurch 5 337.84x
Hoby 5 649.35x
Holy Trinity 5 2.89x
Kirby Bellars 5 724.64x
Ottery St Mary 5 50.51x
Paddington London 5 1.88x
Reading St Giles 5 9.37x
Salford 5 1.98x
Shipston On Stour 5 116.01x
St Woollos 5 8.55x
Upper Machen 5 139.28x
Wooburn 5 82.78x
Birmingham 4 0.66x
Chellaston 4 322.58x
Corsham 4 42.78x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.10x
Eglwysilan 4 18.26x
Harmondsworth 4 88.89x
Harthill 4 1600.00x
Leatherhead 4 45.25x
Manchester 4 1.03x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 9.24x
Pitminster 4 116.62x
Spittlegate 4 24.95x
Wrotham 4 48.84x
Yarcombe 4 231.21x
Ampthill 3 53.57x
Breane 3 810.81x
Edmonton 3 5.14x
Egham 3 13.84x
Islington London 3 0.43x
Radwell 3 1200.00x
St Marylebone London 3 0.78x
Stockland 3 137.61x
Whittlesey St Mary St 3 18.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 33
Eliza 19
Sarah 19
Emily 17
Ellen 15
Emma 15
Jane 15
Ann 12
Annie 12
Alice 8
Caroline 8
Catherine 6
Charlotte 6
Frances 6
Hannah 6
Harriet 6
Lucy 6
Maria 6
Susan 6
Florence 5
Kate 5
Ada 4
Martha 4
Agnes 3
Gertrude 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Georgina 2
Laura 2
Matilda 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Thurza 2
Augusta 1
Edith 1
Effield 1
Gladys 1
Grace 1
Vara 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 42
George 28
James 27
Joseph 20
Thomas 20
Henry 18
Charles 13
Frederick 12
Harry 9
Albert 7
Alfred 6
Edwin 6
Francis 6
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Daniel 5
Frank 5
Richard 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Wollaston 3
Dan 2
Fred 2
Geoe. 2
Reuben 2
Sydney 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Arnas 1
Benny 1
C.B. 1
David 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Harold 1
Jos. 1
Julian 1
Levi 1
Mark 1
Morton 1
Norman 1
P. 1
Paul 1

FAQ

Pym surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pym surname in 1881?

In 1881, 740 people were recorded with the Pym surname. That placed it at #4,951 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pym surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 933 in 2016. That gives Pym a modern rank of #6,126.

What does the Pym surname mean?

An occupational surname of English origin derived from the Old French "parmenter" meaning a tailor or cloth-trimmer.

What does the Pym map show?

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