NameCensus.

UK surname

Tranmer

A locational surname derived from a place name possibly referring to one's residence near a tramway or path across marshy ground.

In the 1881 census there were 104 people recorded with the Tranmer surname, ranking it #19,296 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, up from #19,296 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Pickering and Bridlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Kingston upon Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Tranmer is 293 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 163.5%.

1881 census count

104

Ranked #19,296

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

2013

293 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Tranmer had 104 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,296 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 168 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Tranmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Tranmer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Tranmer 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 104 #19,296
1891 historical 102 #23,719
1901 historical 168 #16,886
1911 historical 149 #17,937
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 274 #14,759
1999 modern 271 #14,954
2000 modern 276 #14,724
2001 modern 272 #14,654
2002 modern 271 #14,966
2003 modern 268 #14,897
2004 modern 261 #15,274
2005 modern 258 #15,323
2006 modern 245 #15,956
2007 modern 260 #15,476
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 268 #15,620
2010 modern 269 #15,935
2011 modern 265 #15,980
2012 modern 283 #15,115
2013 modern 293 #14,998
2014 modern 291 #15,168
2015 modern 283 #15,380
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Tranmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Pickering, Bridlington, Pontefract and Scarborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and Pendle. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Pickering Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Bridlington Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 012 North Somerset
2 Kingston upon Hull 004 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 031 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Pendle 008 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Tranmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Tranmer

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Tranmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Tranmer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Tranmer 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

Tranmer 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

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

Meaning and origin of Tranmer

The surname Tranmer is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "tren" meaning tree and "mere" meaning a pool or lake. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a body of water surrounded by trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Trenmer" in various counties across England. This historical document provides valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of the name during the Norman conquest of England.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, such as Tranmere, Trenmer, and Trenmere. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the evolution of language and pronunciation.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the Tranmer surname include Sir John Tranmer (1592-1662), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Preston during the reign of Charles I. Another prominent figure was William Tranmer (1657-1726), a renowned English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of St. Mary Woolnoth in London.

In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Thomas Tranmer (1738-1810), a respected English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench in Upper Canada (now Ontario, Canada).

Moving into the 19th century, we find Edward Tranmer (1812-1884), a British artist and painter known for his landscapes and genre scenes. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are held in various museum collections.

It is important to note that while these are some of the more prominent individuals bearing the Tranmer surname throughout history, many others undoubtedly contributed to the rich tapestry of this name's legacy across various walks of life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Tranmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Tranmer 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 89 Tranmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.85x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 89 8.85x
Durham 14 4.64x
Monmouthshire 1 1.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridlington in Yorkshire leads with 16 Tranmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 695.65x.

Place Total Index
Bridlington 16 695.65x
Knottingley 16 903.95x
Cottingham 12 553.00x
Scarborough 9 98.58x
Bishop Middleham 6 3750.00x
Conside Knitsley 6 255.32x
Holy Trinity 5 20.68x
Pickering 4 314.96x
Clifton In York 3 142.86x
Falsgrave 3 202.70x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 3 83.57x
Southcoates 3 53.76x
Wansford 3 4285.71x
Darlington 2 17.17x
Great Driffield 2 97.09x
West Ayton 2 1250.00x
Brigham 1 3333.33x
Gate Fulford 1 42.55x
Horton In Bradford 1 6.37x
Newport 1 28.57x
North Dalton 1 588.24x
Pocklington 1 105.26x
Sheffield 1 3.13x
Thwing 1 666.67x
York St Mary 1 24.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Ann 5
Sarah 4
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Eleanor 1
Gemmima 1
Isabel 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1
Naomi 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Tranmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Tranmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 104 people were recorded with the Tranmer surname. That placed it at #19,296 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Tranmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Tranmer a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Tranmer surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name possibly referring to one's residence near a tramway or path across marshy ground.

What does the Tranmer map show?

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