NameCensus.

UK surname

Rymer

An occupational surname referring to a composer or reciter of poetry, often in the form of rhyme.

In the 1881 census there were 716 people recorded with the Rymer surname, ranking it #5,087 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 965, ranked #5,960, down from #5,087 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kilburn, Coxwold (Byland cum Membris), Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Letham and Glamis and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rymer is 1,005 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.8%.

1881 census count

716

Ranked #5,087

Modern count

965

2016, ranked #5,960

Peak year

2014

1,005 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rymer had 716 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,087 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 965 in 2016, ranked #5,960.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 883 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rymer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rymer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rymer 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 608 #4,238
1861 historical 585 #4,514
1881 historical 716 #5,087
1891 historical 673 #5,795
1901 historical 875 #5,242
1911 historical 883 #5,042
1997 modern 927 #5,829
1998 modern 946 #5,928
1999 modern 960 #5,906
2000 modern 962 #5,871
2001 modern 957 #5,785
2002 modern 969 #5,830
2003 modern 950 #5,833
2004 modern 928 #5,936
2005 modern 909 #5,981
2006 modern 886 #6,111
2007 modern 873 #6,241
2008 modern 873 #6,276
2009 modern 893 #6,313
2010 modern 925 #6,245
2011 modern 936 #6,139
2012 modern 956 #5,941
2013 modern 990 #5,874
2014 modern 1,005 #5,837
2015 modern 983 #5,893
2016 modern 965 #5,960

Geography

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Where Rymers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kilburn, Coxwold (Byland cum Membris), Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, North Meols and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Letham and Glamis, Hambleton, York and Cheshire East. 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 Kilburn, Coxwold (Byland cum Membris) Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 North Meols Lancashire
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
2 Letham and Glamis Angus
3 Hambleton 009 Hambleton
4 York 023 York
5 Cheshire East 028 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rymer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rymer

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Rymer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Rymer is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rymer falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rymer

The surname Rymer is an occupational name, derived from the Old English word 'rimour', which means a poet or a reciter of verse. It originated in England in the medieval period, when minstrels and poets were revered for their ability to entertain and educate through poetry and song.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Thomas Rymer, a poet and minstrel who lived in the late 13th century. He is believed to have served in the court of King Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners and tenants in England. It is spelled as "Rymour" and "Rimour" in these records.

The name Rymer is also closely associated with the town of Rymer's Green, a small village in Staffordshire, England. This place name is believed to have derived from the surname, suggesting that the Rymer family had a significant presence in the area.

One of the most notable individuals with the surname Rymer was Thomas the Rhymer, a legendary Scottish poet and prophet who lived in the 13th century (c. 1220-1297). He is famous for his supposed encounter with the Queen of Elfland and his prophetic verses, which were widely circulated in medieval Scotland.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Rymer (1638-1713), an English historian and antiquarian who served as the Historiographer Royal under King William III and Queen Anne. He is best known for his work "Foedera," a collection of treaties and diplomatic documents related to English history.

In the literary world, the name is associated with James Malcolm Rymer (1803-1884), an English writer and playwright who was a prolific contributor to the penny dreadful publications of the 19th century.

Ralph Rymer (1510-1592) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford in the 16th century.

The Rymer family also had a notable presence in the American colonies, with John Rymer (1633-1677) being one of the earliest settlers in Virginia. He served as a member of the House of Burgesses, the legislative assembly of the Virginia Colony.

While the name Rymer has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with bearers of the surname found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rymer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rymer 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. Yorkshire leads with 325 Rymers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.70x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 325 4.70x
Lancashire 75 0.90x
Middlesex 64 0.92x
Gloucestershire 48 3.50x
Surrey 39 1.15x
Durham 36 1.73x
Derbyshire 12 1.10x
Monmouthshire 12 2.38x
Staffordshire 11 0.47x
Somerset 10 0.89x
Fife 9 2.18x
Kent 9 0.38x
Lanarkshire 8 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.74x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.36x
Sussex 6 0.51x
Denbighshire 4 1.52x
Devon 4 0.28x
Lincolnshire 4 0.36x
Midlothian 4 0.43x
Northamptonshire 4 0.61x
Northumberland 4 0.38x
Angus 2 0.31x
Essex 2 0.15x
Westmorland 2 1.30x
Berkshire 1 0.19x
Cumberland 1 0.17x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.21x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x
Wigtownshire 1 1.08x
Wiltshire 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. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 23 Rymers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.82x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 23 13.82x
Sculcoates 23 20.96x
Barnsley 21 29.42x
Lambeth 21 3.45x
Tidenham 17 801.89x
Northallerton 16 181.20x
Oldham 16 5.98x
York St Maurice 15 115.12x
Middlesbrough 14 15.53x
Lancaut 13 43333.33x
Islington London 12 1.77x
Batley 11 16.72x
Croydon 11 5.82x
Leeds 11 2.81x
Ardsley 10 125.31x
Horninglow 10 90.01x
Lytham 10 79.05x
Midsomer Norton 10 94.43x
New Malton 10 120.92x
Gomersal 9 27.86x
North Meols 9 11.09x
Shettleston 8 39.56x
Wass 8 2962.96x
Ampleforth St Peter 7 1272.73x
Byland Abbey 7 3181.82x
Ratcliffe London 7 18.15x
South Kilvington 7 1129.03x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.36x
Dairsie 6 357.14x
East Cowton 6 645.16x
Fordham 6 209.79x
Mansfield 6 18.42x
Mile End Old Town 6 5.44x
Nawton 6 714.29x
St Pancras London 6 1.07x
St Woollos 6 10.65x
Stranton 6 8.58x
Westminster St John 6 7.05x
Willington 6 49.96x
Woking 6 29.25x
Bagby 5 746.27x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 21.12x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 20.12x
Glossop Dale 5 9.76x
Hesketh Cum Becconsall 5 241.55x
Rawmarsh 5 20.45x
Scarborough 5 7.95x
St George In East 5 10.52x
St Marylebone London 5 1.34x
Stockton On Tees 5 4.99x
Sutton Stoneferry 5 25.25x
Thirsk 5 62.58x
Wombwell 5 24.78x
York St Giles In 5 76.69x
Barrow In Furness 4 3.55x
Claylane 4 26.32x
Cowpen 4 16.72x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.06x
Falsgrave 4 39.22x
Formby 4 42.64x
Gate Fulford 4 24.75x
Holt 4 163.93x
Hulme 4 2.31x
Northampton Priory St 4 10.15x
Painswick 4 41.28x
Sandford 4 112.36x
Stillington 4 279.72x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 21.86x
Woolaston 4 193.24x
York St Andrew 4 597.01x
Allerton 3 34.01x
Chepstow 3 34.88x
Drypool 3 28.30x
Egton 3 99.01x
Falkland 3 46.15x
Knowsley 3 100.33x
Soothill 3 12.00x
Warlaby 3 1578.95x
Whitby 3 12.86x
Yarm 3 84.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 32
Sarah 27
Margaret 19
Annie 17
Alice 12
Emily 12
Jane 12
Hannah 11
Ann 8
Clara 8
Martha 8
Eliza 7
Ellen 7
Louisa 6
Anne 5
Edith 5
Emma 4
Matilda 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Helen 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Polly 3
Arabella 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elizbt. 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Isabel 2
Isabella 2
John 2
Kate 2
Margret 2
Sophia 2
Cecilia 1
Eleana 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebath 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Mary 1
Hester 1
Infant 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 44
William 43
Thomas 30
George 27
James 21
Charles 18
Henry 17
Alfred 10
Joseph 10
Robert 8
Edward 7
Frederick 7
Arthur 6
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Ernest 4
Peter 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Harold 2
Horatio 2
Hugh 2
Josh. 2
Matthew 2
Roland 2
Sam 2
Thos. 2
Benjn.Oldroyd 1
Earnest 1
Ernist 1
Felix 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Lomax 1
Malcolm 1
Mathew 1
Osbert 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Rymer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rymer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 716 people were recorded with the Rymer surname. That placed it at #5,087 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rymer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 965 in 2016. That gives Rymer a modern rank of #5,960.

What does the Rymer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a composer or reciter of poetry, often in the form of rhyme.

What does the Rymer map show?

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