NameCensus.

UK surname

Trim

An English surname derived from a nickname for a well-dressed or neat person, from Middle English "trim" meaning "firm, stable."

In the 1881 census there were 895 people recorded with the Trim surname, ranking it #4,253 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,140, ranked #5,172, down from #4,253 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kington Magna, London parishes and Lydlinch, Stock Gayland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, New Forest and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trim is 1,292 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.4%.

1881 census count

895

Ranked #4,253

Modern count

1,140

2016, ranked #5,172

Peak year

1998

1,292 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trim had 895 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,253 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,140 in 2016, ranked #5,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,262 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Trim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trim surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trim 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 631 #4,113
1861 historical 444 #5,826
1881 historical 895 #4,253
1891 historical 931 #4,447
1901 historical 1,055 #4,553
1911 historical 1,262 #3,770
1997 modern 1,268 #4,495
1998 modern 1,292 #4,599
1999 modern 1,290 #4,627
2000 modern 1,254 #4,723
2001 modern 1,213 #4,760
2002 modern 1,240 #4,756
2003 modern 1,228 #4,715
2004 modern 1,226 #4,718
2005 modern 1,172 #4,856
2006 modern 1,174 #4,866
2007 modern 1,173 #4,906
2008 modern 1,181 #4,894
2009 modern 1,207 #4,918
2010 modern 1,229 #4,943
2011 modern 1,198 #4,986
2012 modern 1,148 #5,095
2013 modern 1,175 #5,088
2014 modern 1,181 #5,093
2015 modern 1,155 #5,133
2016 modern 1,140 #5,172

Geography

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Where Trims are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kington Magna, London parishes, Lydlinch, Stock Gayland and Woodgreen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, New Forest and Bournemouth. 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 Kington Magna Somerset
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lydlinch, Stock Gayland Dorset
4 Woodgreen Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 002 North Dorset
2 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
3 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
4 New Forest 001 New Forest
5 Bournemouth 009 Bournemouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trim

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trim

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

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Trim surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Trim household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Trim is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Trim is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Trim

The surname TRIM is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period in the 12th century. It is believed to be a topographic name, derived from the Old English word "trymman," meaning "to trim" or "to prune." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to an occupation or a location associated with trimming or pruning activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TRIM can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1209, where a person named Richard Trim is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already established in England during the early 13th century.

The surname TRIM is also closely linked to the town of Trim in County Meath, Ireland. The name of the town is derived from the Irish word "Baile Átha Troim," meaning "town of the heavy ford." It is possible that some bearers of the surname TRIM may have originated from this area or had connections to the town.

In the 14th century, records show the name appearing in various spellings, such as Trym, Trymme, and Trymman. These variations reflect the evolving nature of surnames during that period and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable bearer of the surname TRIM was Sir Thomas Trim (c. 1540-1614), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1612. He was involved in the East India Company and played a significant role in the early English trading activities with India.

Another prominent figure with the surname TRIM was Benjamin Trim (1659-1724), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, from 1719 until his death.

In the 18th century, John Trim (1718-1795) was an English sculptor and carver who worked on various architectural projects, including the Mansion House in London.

Moving into the 19th century, Henry Trim (1820-1899) was a British architect known for his work on the St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, a notable example of Gothic Revival architecture.

Additionally, the name TRIM appeared in the historical records of Ireland, where Sir John Trim (1772-1852) was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for County Meath in the early 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname TRIM has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergy, artists, architects, and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trim 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. Dorset leads with 256 Trims recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.53x.

County Total Index
Dorset 256 44.53x
Somerset 127 9.01x
Hampshire 104 5.79x
Devon 92 5.05x
Middlesex 70 0.80x
Surrey 69 1.62x
Wiltshire 30 3.87x
Kent 24 0.80x
Lancashire 19 0.18x
Monmouthshire 17 2.68x
Gloucestershire 15 0.87x
Sussex 12 0.81x
Cheshire 10 0.52x
Essex 9 0.52x
Glamorgan 6 0.39x
Midlothian 5 0.43x
Berkshire 4 0.61x
Yorkshire 4 0.05x
Cornwall 3 0.30x
Derbyshire 3 0.22x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.72x
Warwickshire 3 0.14x
Brecknockshire 2 1.14x
Lanarkshire 2 0.07x
Royal Navy 2 1.92x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Oxfordshire 1 0.18x
Renfrewshire 1 0.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woodgreen in Hampshire leads with 29 Trims recorded in 1881 and an index of 3295.45x.

Place Total Index
Woodgreen 29 3295.45x
South Brewham 26 2476.19x
Lydlinch 22 2056.07x
Kington Magna 20 1438.85x
Melcombe Regis 19 79.73x
Puddletrenthide 17 758.93x
Camberwell 16 2.86x
Chatham 16 19.46x
Stourton 14 843.37x
Battersea 12 3.72x
Bruton 12 216.22x
St George Hanover 12 10.50x
Charlton Musgrove 11 894.31x
Llanwenarth Ultra 11 238.10x
Shepton Montague 11 1122.45x
Southampton St Mary 11 9.74x
Donhead St Mary 10 253.81x
Musbury 10 625.00x
Portland 10 32.35x
Wells St Cuthbert 10 103.95x
Whitwell 10 471.70x
Hampstead London 9 6.60x
Littleham 9 67.52x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 6.41x
Wimbledon 9 18.78x
Yarmouth 9 379.75x
Cann 8 476.19x
Dalwood 8 645.16x
East Stoke 8 457.14x
Honiton 8 79.29x
Lambeth 8 1.05x
Portsea 8 2.27x
Swanage 8 112.68x
Yeovil 8 27.92x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 3.08x
Axminster 7 81.87x
Chelsea London 7 2.65x
Davenham 7 397.73x
Glastonbury 7 60.82x
Gorton 7 7.16x
Hinton Martel 7 614.04x
Kingston Russell 7 3333.33x
St Pancras London 7 0.99x
Walton On Thames 7 35.71x
West Stour 7 1428.57x
Affpuddle 6 410.96x
Caundle Bishop 6 600.00x
Holwell 6 480.00x
Moore Critchell 6 545.45x
North Petherton 6 52.77x
Ryde 6 15.56x
South Mimms 6 49.96x
Spetisbury 6 377.36x
Tolleshunt Knights 6 434.78x
Wincanton 6 82.64x
Bradford Peverell 5 505.05x
Bristol St George 5 6.29x
Churchstanton 5 223.21x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.42x
Croydon 5 2.11x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.06x
Longburton 5 438.60x
Mark 5 151.98x
Overton 5 116.28x
Parkstone 5 74.52x
Poole St James 5 23.15x
Southampton All Sts 5 16.23x
St Marylebone London 5 1.07x
Stalbridge 5 91.58x
Studland 5 273.22x
Trevethin 5 8.36x
Uplyme 5 183.15x
Barwick 4 281.69x
Clifton 4 4.61x
Englishcombe 4 254.78x
Hardington Mandeville 4 210.53x
Newington 4 1.24x
Plymouth Charles The 4 4.98x
Puddletown 4 113.64x
Shaftesbury St Peter 4 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 37
Sarah 30
Eliza 21
Jane 21
Emily 18
Alice 14
Annie 14
Ann 12
Emma 12
Martha 12
Louisa 11
Ellen 10
Fanny 10
Florence 10
Susan 9
Kate 8
Ada 7
Maria 7
Caroline 5
Grace 5
Jessie 5
Anne 4
Hannah 4
Amelia 3
Bessie 3
Gertrude 3
Harriet 3
Julia 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Adelaide 2
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Elizat. 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Georgina 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Rosa 2
Rosey 2
Rosina 2
Anny 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 54
George 34
Charles 32
Henry 32
John 31
James 22
Edward 19
Robert 16
Thomas 16
Alfred 15
Frederick 13
Albert 12
Samuel 11
Arthur 10
Walter 9
Frank 7
Joseph 7
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Andrew 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Edgar 2
Eli 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Reuben 2
Stephen 2
Willie 2
Bertie 1
Frederich 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Geo. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Leslie 1
Louis 1
Malaci 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Trim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 895 people were recorded with the Trim surname. That placed it at #4,253 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,140 in 2016. That gives Trim a modern rank of #5,172.

What does the Trim surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname for a well-dressed or neat person, from Middle English "trim" meaning "firm, stable."

What does the Trim map show?

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