NameCensus.

UK surname

Starmer

An English surname derived from an occupational name for a starmonger or dealer in wheat starch.

In the 1881 census there were 473 people recorded with the Starmer surname, ranking it #7,057 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 439, ranked #11,007, down from #7,057 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Poole, South Northamptonshire and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Starmer is 709 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.2%.

1881 census count

473

Ranked #7,057

Modern count

439

2016, ranked #11,007

Peak year

1911

709 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Starmer had 473 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,057 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016, ranked #11,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 709 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Starmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Starmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Starmer 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 301 #7,626
1861 historical 254 #9,741
1881 historical 473 #7,057
1891 historical 485 #7,607
1901 historical 655 #6,599
1911 historical 709 #6,014
1997 modern 532 #8,887
1998 modern 538 #9,073
1999 modern 532 #9,208
2000 modern 515 #9,408
2001 modern 515 #9,254
2002 modern 519 #9,390
2003 modern 495 #9,557
2004 modern 489 #9,652
2005 modern 496 #9,499
2006 modern 487 #9,664
2007 modern 482 #9,831
2008 modern 491 #9,785
2009 modern 492 #9,979
2010 modern 500 #10,059
2011 modern 501 #9,938
2012 modern 472 #10,295
2013 modern 460 #10,661
2014 modern 452 #10,857
2015 modern 441 #10,994
2016 modern 439 #11,007

Geography

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Where Starmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Lambeth and Harpole. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Poole, South Northamptonshire, East Staffordshire, Northampton and Harborough. 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 Narborough (Narborough), Cosby with Little Thorpe Leicestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Harpole Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Poole 014 Poole
2 South Northamptonshire 001 South Northamptonshire
3 East Staffordshire 010 East Staffordshire
4 Northampton 014 Northampton
5 Harborough 004 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Starmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Starmer

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Starmer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Starmer 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

Starmer falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Starmer

The surname "STARMER" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots traceable back to the 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "stærmeræ," which translates to "a pool or marshy area." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals who lived near or worked in such environments.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "STARMER" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire, dating back to 1379. This historical document lists a certain "Johannes Starmer" as a taxpayer, providing evidence of the surname's existence during that time period.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various parish records throughout Yorkshire and Lancashire. For instance, the christening of "Thomas Starmer" is recorded in the parish register of Wakefield, Yorkshire, in 1583.

The Starmer surname is also connected to several place names in England, such as Starmer, a small village near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. This village likely took its name from the surname, or perhaps the surname originated from the place name itself.

Notable individuals bearing the Starmer surname throughout history include:

1. John Starmer (c. 1610-1670), an English clergyman and author, who served as Rector of Swinstead in Lincolnshire. 2. William Starmer (1776-1859), a British artist known for his landscapes and portraits, many of which are housed in the Tate Britain gallery. 3. Elizabeth Starmer (1815-1892), a philanthropist and social reformer from Yorkshire, who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the working class. 4. Thomas Starmer (1862-1927), a successful businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Bradford, Yorkshire, from 1903 to 1905. 5. Samuel Starmer (1891-1965), a British soldier who fought in both World War I and World War II, earning the Military Cross for his bravery in the latter conflict.

While the Starmer surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and migration patterns. However, the detailed history and origin of this surname remain firmly rooted in the English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it first emerged centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Starmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Starmer 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. Northamptonshire leads with 248 Starmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.15x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 248 57.15x
Lincolnshire 61 8.27x
Leicestershire 58 11.34x
Middlesex 22 0.48x
Staffordshire 21 1.35x
Surrey 16 0.71x
Yorkshire 15 0.33x
Huntingdonshire 10 10.92x
Kent 9 0.57x
Derbyshire 7 0.97x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.68x
Sussex 2 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.36x
Durham 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kettering in Northamptonshire leads with 68 Starmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 387.46x.

Place Total Index
Kettering 68 387.46x
Cosby 43 2704.40x
Harpole 36 2748.09x
Northampton Priory St 33 126.73x
Northampton St Sepulchre 24 108.70x
Burton Upon Trent 15 41.16x
Daventry 12 195.44x
Wellingborough 12 55.00x
Hogsthorpe 11 964.91x
Northampton All Sts 11 74.68x
Kimbolton 10 518.13x
Leeds 10 3.87x
Duston 9 228.43x
Northampton St Giles 8 48.40x
Alfreton 7 31.89x
Haven Bank 7 14000.00x
Scremby 7 2592.59x
Stowe Nine Churches 7 1707.32x
Hackney London 6 2.32x
Kislingbury 6 545.45x
Lambeth 6 1.49x
Midville 6 1875.00x
Tamworth 6 72.03x
Cottesbrooke 5 1470.59x
Kingsthorpe 5 103.73x
St Pancras London 5 1.35x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.29x
Guisbrough 4 40.04x
Hinckley 4 32.98x
Northampton St Peter 4 151.52x
Tonbridge 4 7.04x
Twickenham 4 20.22x
Battersea 3 1.77x
Mavis Enderby 3 1363.64x
Mile End Old Town 3 4.12x
Wandsworth 3 6.75x
Welton 3 389.61x
Ashby Cum Fenby 2 476.19x
Camberwell 2 0.68x
Croft 2 166.67x
Gunby In Spilsby 2 1538.46x
Islington London 2 0.45x
Kensington London 2 0.78x
Leicester Black Friars 2 60.06x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.60x
Markby 2 1052.63x
Mumby 2 196.08x
Narborough 2 142.86x
Theddlethorpe All Sts 2 384.62x
Theddlethorpe St Helen 2 307.69x
Welton 2 185.19x
West Firle 2 222.22x
Whetstone 2 106.95x
Ashby St Ledgers 1 243.90x
Billesdon 1 75.19x
Brington 1 76.34x
Broughton Astley 1 89.29x
Candlesby 1 256.41x
Cold Brayfield 1 714.29x
Croydon 1 0.80x
Dalby 1 400.00x
Epsom 1 9.12x
Firsby 1 270.27x
Floore 1 61.35x
Gaddesby 1 263.16x
Gainsborough 1 5.75x
Hagworthingham 1 129.87x
Higham Ferrers 1 42.37x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 1 31.55x
Hundleby 1 100.00x
Louth 1 5.91x
Milton 1 86.96x
Northolme 1 312.50x
Raithby In Spilsby 1 416.67x
Sculcoates 1 1.38x
Skegness 1 47.39x
St Lawrence 1 9.24x
Trumpington 1 67.11x
Welton In The Marsh 1 169.49x
Wolsingham 1 7.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Ann 16
Sarah 16
Eliza 13
Annie 10
Elizabeth 9
Emma 8
Jane 8
Charlotte 7
Kate 7
Martha 6
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Harriett 3
Lizzie 3
Sophia 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Henrietta 2
Louisa 2
Mabel 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Winifred 2
Anne 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Florrie 1
Julia 1
Margaret 1
Margret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 23
John 19
Thomas 19
Alfred 16
Henry 8
Charles 7
Joseph 7
Edward 6
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Herbert 5
James 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Walter 4
David 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Ebenezer 2
Elisha 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Jacob 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Augustus 1
Edw 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Hy. 1
Josiah 1
Luther 1
Maikhail 1
Malcolm 1
Marsh 1
Nathaniel 1
Noah 1
Owen 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Sampson 1

FAQ

Starmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Starmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 473 people were recorded with the Starmer surname. That placed it at #7,057 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Starmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016. That gives Starmer a modern rank of #11,007.

What does the Starmer surname mean?

An English surname derived from an occupational name for a starmonger or dealer in wheat starch.

What does the Starmer map show?

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