NameCensus.

UK surname

Rimmer

An English occupational surname for one who made or repaired rims for wheels.

In the 1881 census there were 4,861 people recorded with the Rimmer surname, ranking it #917 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,422, ranked #900, up from #917 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Meols, Prescot and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rimmer is 7,873 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.7%.

1881 census count

4,861

Ranked #917

Modern count

7,422

2016, ranked #900

Peak year

1999

7,873 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rimmer had 4,861 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #917 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,422 in 2016, ranked #900.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,345 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Rimmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rimmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rimmer 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 2,621 #1,128
1861 historical 2,622 #1,121
1881 historical 4,861 #917
1891 historical 5,057 #930
1901 historical 6,059 #920
1911 historical 7,345 #707
1997 modern 7,647 #840
1998 modern 7,817 #859
1999 modern 7,873 #857
2000 modern 7,754 #869
2001 modern 7,549 #874
2002 modern 7,722 #872
2003 modern 7,444 #881
2004 modern 7,439 #881
2005 modern 7,276 #891
2006 modern 7,297 #890
2007 modern 7,371 #889
2008 modern 7,411 #892
2009 modern 7,576 #895
2010 modern 7,751 #891
2011 modern 7,571 #900
2012 modern 7,249 #913
2013 modern 7,458 #907
2014 modern 7,526 #904
2015 modern 7,473 #899
2016 modern 7,422 #900

Geography

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Where Rimmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Meols, Prescot, Liverpool, West Derby and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sefton. 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 North Meols Lancashire
2 Prescot Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sefton 005 Sefton
2 Sefton 008 Sefton
3 Sefton 010 Sefton
4 Sefton 002 Sefton
5 Sefton 007 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rimmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rimmer

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Rimmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rimmer 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rimmer 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

Rimmer is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rimmer falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rimmer 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 Rimmer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rimmer

The surname Rimmer is believed to have originated in England in the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word 'rima' meaning 'rim' or 'edge'. It was initially an occupational name for a person who lived or worked near the edge or border of a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rimmer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Rymor'. This suggests that the name was already in use in parts of England during the 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name began to appear in various records and documents across different regions of England, with spellings such as 'Rymor', 'Rymour', and 'Rymmer'. These variations likely reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 14th century, the name Rimmer was associated with several place names in England, including Rimmer's Croft in Lancashire and Rimmer's Lane in Cheshire. This indicates that the name had become well-established and linked to specific locations.

One notable historical figure with the surname Rimmer was William Rimmer (1816-1879), an American painter and sculptor born in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, England. He is renowned for his works depicting historical and mythological themes.

Another notable individual was Alfred Rimmer (1829-1893), an English artist and art critic who served as the curator of the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester for over 30 years.

In the 19th century, the name Rimmer was also associated with James Rimmer (1823-1907), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool and the surrounding areas.

Edith Rimmer (1887-1986) was a British author and playwright known for her novels and plays set in the industrial towns of northern England, providing insights into working-class life during that era.

Finally, one of the more recent notable figures with the surname Rimmer was Chris Rimmer (1936-2022), a British musician and composer who played an influential role in the development of electronic music in the UK.

These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals with the surname Rimmer throughout history, spanning various fields such as art, architecture, literature, and music.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rimmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rimmer 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. Lancashire leads with 4,250 Rimmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.68x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4,250 7.68x
Cheshire 247 2.40x
Yorkshire 69 0.15x
Warwickshire 28 0.24x
Surrey 21 0.09x
Middlesex 20 0.04x
Cumberland 17 0.42x
Denbighshire 14 0.79x
Staffordshire 13 0.08x
Durham 11 0.08x
Derbyshire 10 0.14x
Cornwall 8 0.15x
Kent 8 0.05x
Westmorland 8 0.78x
Lincolnshire 7 0.09x
Worcestershire 7 0.11x
Leicestershire 6 0.12x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.27x
Renfrewshire 5 0.14x
Gloucestershire 4 0.04x
Lanarkshire 4 0.03x
Hampshire 3 0.03x
Isle of Man 3 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.05x
Anglesey 2 0.24x
Ayrshire 2 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Devon 1 0.01x
Flintshire 1 0.08x
Glamorgan 1 0.01x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Kinross-shire 1 0.85x
Shropshire 1 0.02x
Wigtownshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Meols in Lancashire leads with 1,017 Rimmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 187.66x.

Place Total Index
North Meols 1,017 187.66x
Formby 283 451.43x
Liverpool 253 7.52x
Birkdale 243 173.47x
Everton 153 8.67x
Toxteth Park 133 7.09x
West Derby 125 7.72x
Scarisbrick 96 149.37x
Windle 85 27.29x
Aughton 64 116.72x
Hesketh Cum Becconsall 62 447.65x
Wigan 62 8.01x
Kirkdale 59 6.33x
Halsall 54 247.03x
Lathom 53 79.27x
Great Crosby 52 34.45x
Eccleston In Prescot 51 18.35x
Lydiate 51 295.65x
Blackburn 48 3.26x
Birkenhead 47 5.72x
Ashton In Makerfield 45 28.54x
Bootle Cum Linacre 43 9.78x
Thornton In Fylde 42 34.67x
Litherland 41 35.42x
Sutton 36 19.39x
Much Woolton 35 46.59x
Wavertree 35 19.75x
Barrow In Furness 34 4.52x
Huyton With Roby 33 50.86x
Preston 33 2.23x
Salford 33 2.03x
Ormskirk 32 30.21x
Walton On Hill 32 10.67x
Whiston 30 69.46x
Maghull 29 126.25x
Bickerstaffe 28 77.26x
Penwortham 24 91.53x
Hulme 23 1.99x
Layton With Warbreck 23 11.32x
Manchester 23 0.92x
Radcliffe 23 8.62x
Chorley 22 7.08x
Ince In Makerfield 22 8.54x
Pendleton In Salford 22 3.34x
Skelmersdale 22 23.84x
Garston 21 12.85x
Widnes 21 5.26x
Newton 20 4.69x
Altcar 19 216.40x
Chester Holy Trinity 18 37.28x
Great Bolton 18 2.45x
Rainford 18 30.06x
Tranmere 18 4.76x
Haydock 15 15.72x
Westhoughton 15 10.15x
Bedford 14 12.09x
Prescot 14 13.98x
Simonswood 14 188.43x
Claughton With Grange 13 27.71x
Allostock 12 150.00x
Colne 12 7.28x
Dukinfield 12 2.52x
Heaton Norris 12 3.81x
Little Crosby 12 134.68x
Sefton 12 195.76x
Tong 12 13.44x
Upholland 12 16.92x
Warrington 12 1.83x
Birmingham 11 0.28x
Parr 11 5.55x
Peover Superior 11 112.94x
Liscard 10 5.39x
Orell Ford 10 98.33x
Ashton 9 145.16x
Brightside Bierlow 9 0.99x
Burscough 9 106.51x
Camberwell 9 0.30x
Farington 9 27.92x
Newton In Makerfield 9 5.31x
Worsley 9 2.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 378
Elizabeth 241
Jane 176
Ellen 161
Margaret 159
Alice 153
Ann 136
Sarah 105
Annie 58
Catherine 47
Martha 43
Eliza 39
Emma 34
Isabella 33
Hannah 31
Emily 23
Ada 22
Anne 21
Agnes 17
Nancy 17
Betty 16
Edith 16
Margt. 16
Frances 15
Kate 15
Esther 14
Maria 14
Margery 13
Elizth. 12
Charlotte 11
Dorothy 10
Florence 9
Harriet 9
Amelia 8
Bridget 8
Susan 8
Clara 7
Fanny 7
Amy 6
Betsy 6
Elisabeth 6
Eliz. 6
Grace 6
Jessie 6
Louisa 6
Lydia 6
Selina 6
Caroline 5
Catharine 5
Rebecca 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 402
William 287
Thomas 268
James 263
Richard 135
Robert 132
Henry 97
Joseph 87
George 72
Peter 72
Charles 47
Edward 46
Alfred 31
Samuel 21
Arthur 19
Wm. 17
Frederick 16
Edwin 15
Walter 15
Albert 13
Thos. 13
David 12
Herbert 12
Nathan 11
Gilbert 9
Harry 9
Enoch 8
Ernest 8
Hugh 8
Nicholas 7
Richd. 7
Job 6
Frank 5
Mark 5
Isaac 4
Alexander 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Evan 3
Francis 3
Luke 3
Michael 3
Moses 3
Oswald 3
Ralph 3
Robt. 3
Seth 3
Stanley 3
Reginald 2
Rob. 2

FAQ

Rimmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rimmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,861 people were recorded with the Rimmer surname. That placed it at #917 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rimmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,422 in 2016. That gives Rimmer a modern rank of #900.

What does the Rimmer surname mean?

An English occupational surname for one who made or repaired rims for wheels.

What does the Rimmer map show?

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