UK surname
A surname derived from the Arabic word "tammer", meaning a dealer in dates or fruit.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Tamer surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Pancras, Thaxted and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tamer is 318 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.9%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
318 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Tamer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Tamer surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 90 | #18,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 318 | #7,999 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 185 | #15,803 |
| 1901 | historical | 55 | #28,064 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 24 | #35,552 |
| 2004 | modern | 28 | #35,354 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 27 | #35,746 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 29 | #35,922 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 36 | #35,654 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Pancras, Thaxted, St Philip and Jacob, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 2 | Thaxted | Essex |
| 3 | St Philip and Jacob | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Tamer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Tamer, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Tamer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Tamer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Tamer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Tamer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Tamer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname TAMER is of Arabic origin and is derived from the Arabic word "tamr" which means "date palm". The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East and North Africa regions where date palms are commonly grown.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname TAMER can be found in medieval Arabic manuscripts from the 9th century, where it was used to refer to individuals involved in the cultivation or trade of dates. The name may have been initially used as an occupational surname for those who worked with date palms.
In the 12th century, the name TAMER appeared in various records and documents from the region, indicating its widespread use. During this time, the name was also associated with individuals who hailed from cities or regions known for their date palm production, such as Tamarit in Morocco or Tamerza in Tunisia.
As the name spread across different regions, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. Some of the earliest recorded spellings include Tamer, Tamer, and Tamr, among others. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal practices.
One notable bearer of the surname TAMER was Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Tamer (1080-1165), a renowned Islamic scholar and theologian from Seville, Spain. Another prominent figure was Abu Bakr al-Tamer (1160-1232), a Moroccan philosopher and mathematician known for his contributions to the study of optics.
In the 14th century, the name TAMER appeared in several European records, likely due to the migration of individuals from North Africa and the Middle East. One such example is Ibn Battuta (1304-1369), a famous Moroccan explorer and traveler who journeyed across vast regions of the Muslim world and documented his adventures.
During the Ottoman period, the surname TAMER was found in various administrative records and documents from the 16th to the 18th centuries, particularly in regions under Ottoman rule. One notable figure from this era was Ahmed Tamer (1620-1690), an Ottoman historian and chronicler who authored several works on the history of the Ottoman Empire.
In the 19th century, the surname TAMER gained further prominence with individuals like Mustafa Tamer (1810-1878), an Egyptian scholar and writer who contributed to the revival of Arabic literature during the Nahda period.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tamer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 10 Tamers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 10 | 10.82x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.92x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 4.24x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.08x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 9.93x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 4.17x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 4.31x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.36x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 3.17x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.72x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.63x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thaxted in Essex leads with 10 Tamers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3225.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Thaxted | 10 | 3225.81x |
| Edgbaston | 5 | 136.61x |
| Parton | 4 | 1666.67x |
| South Stoneham | 4 | 192.31x |
| Bedlington | 3 | 128.76x |
| Limehouse London | 3 | 58.37x |
| Middlesbrough | 3 | 49.67x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 17.94x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 5.93x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 12.25x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 5.31x |
| Tottenham | 2 | 26.85x |
| Beckenham | 1 | 47.85x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 8.37x |
| Christleton Littleton | 1 | 666.67x |
| North Cadbury | 1 | 714.29x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.81x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 20.79x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Tamer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Tamer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Tamer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Nurse | 2 |
| Brewer | 1 |
| Brewer Employing 7 Men & 2 Boys | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Com Agent | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dock Laborer | 1 |
| Domestic Ser | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Foreman In Cork Warehouse | 1 |
| Formerly Assist Semtress | 1 |
| Ladysmaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Recipients Of Almhouse | 1 |
| Timber Mer Clerk | 1 |
| Timber Merchant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Tamer surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Tamer a modern rank of #35,582.
A surname derived from the Arabic word "tammer", meaning a dealer in dates or fruit.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Tamer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.