NameCensus.

UK surname

Trimble

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a crossroads or a distinctive road junction.

In the 1881 census there were 231 people recorded with the Trimble surname, ranking it #11,722 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 817, ranked #6,789, up from #11,722 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, County Durham and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trimble is 840 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 253.7%.

1881 census count

231

Ranked #11,722

Modern count

817

2016, ranked #6,789

Peak year

2013

840 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trimble had 231 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,722 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 817 in 2016, ranked #6,789.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 310 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trimble surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trimble surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trimble 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 189 #10,896
1861 historical 160 #14,468
1881 historical 231 #11,722
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 310 #11,393
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 750 #6,883
1998 modern 765 #6,993
1999 modern 784 #6,912
2000 modern 754 #7,071
2001 modern 760 #6,922
2002 modern 800 #6,773
2003 modern 750 #7,018
2004 modern 766 #6,913
2005 modern 735 #7,065
2006 modern 734 #7,105
2007 modern 743 #7,107
2008 modern 749 #7,114
2009 modern 779 #7,031
2010 modern 797 #7,052
2011 modern 804 #6,918
2012 modern 805 #6,796
2013 modern 840 #6,697
2014 modern 839 #6,730
2015 modern 814 #6,835
2016 modern 817 #6,789

Geography

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Where Trimbles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Eccles, Manchester, Westward and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, County Durham, Cornwall, Allerdale and Selby. 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 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Westward Cumberland
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 002 Wiltshire
2 County Durham 059 County Durham
3 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
4 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
5 Selby 003 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trimble

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trimble

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

Trimble 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

Trimble 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 Trimble 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Trimble, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Trimble

The surname Trimble is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "trim" meaning "firm or strong" and "bill" meaning "sword or battle-axe." It likely originated as a nickname for a formidable warrior or soldier.

The name first appeared in historical records in the 13th century, with references to individuals bearing the name found in various counties across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name is in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, which lists a William Trimbold.

In the 14th century, the surname was also found in various spellings, such as Trymble, Trymbell, and Trimbell, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and orthography of the time. The name is believed to have been particularly prevalent in the northern regions of England, where many of its earliest bearers lived.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Trimble was Hugh Trimble, an English clergyman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1619 until his death in 1623.

Another notable individual was Robert Trimble, an American jurist and politician born in 1776. He served as a Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky and later as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1826 to 1828.

In the 18th century, the surname Trimble was found in various place names across England, such as Trimble Grange in Lincolnshire and Trimble Farm in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Additionally, the name Trimble has been associated with several notable people throughout history, including:

1. Allen Trimble (1783-1870), an American politician who served as the 12th Governor of Ohio from 1826 to 1830. 2. Isaac Ridgeway Trimble (1802-1888), an American soldier who served as a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. 3. Joseph Trimble (1779-1865), an American businessman and politician who served as a United States Representative from Kentucky. 4. William Trimble (1786-1821), an American military officer who served in the War of 1812 and later as a United States Representative from Ohio. 5. James Trimble (1782-1865), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Representative from Kentucky.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trimble families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trimble 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. Lancashire leads with 73 Trimbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 73 2.72x
Cumberland 37 18.99x
Devon 12 2.55x
Durham 12 1.78x
Lanarkshire 11 1.50x
Midlothian 10 3.30x
Yorkshire 10 0.45x
Staffordshire 9 1.18x
Surrey 9 0.82x
Wiltshire 9 4.50x
Cornwall 7 2.73x
Kent 5 0.65x
Norfolk 5 1.44x
Somerset 5 1.37x
Angus 4 1.91x
Leicestershire 3 1.20x
Middlesex 3 0.13x
Northumberland 2 0.59x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Derbyshire 1 0.28x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Lincolnshire 1 0.28x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.39x
Perthshire 1 0.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 14 Trimbles recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.97x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 14 24.97x
Barrow In Furness 11 30.12x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 34.29x
Pendleton In Salford 10 31.26x
Dalston 9 596.03x
Glasgow 9 6.93x
Swindon 9 57.99x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 6.56x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 9.88x
Stretford 8 54.16x
Toxteth Park 8 8.80x
St Germans 7 391.06x
Chatham 5 23.54x
Croydon 5 8.17x
Exeter Alphington 5 581.40x
Tallentire 5 2941.18x
Trowse Cum Newton 5 581.40x
Walcot 5 25.77x
Walton Le Dale 5 69.25x
Wetheral 5 193.80x
Whicham 5 1724.14x
Bury 4 13.04x
Leeds 4 3.16x
St Vigeans 4 35.34x
Clapham 3 10.60x
Exeter St Olave 3 491.80x
Formby 3 98.68x
Loughborough 3 26.34x
Moss Side 3 21.23x
Batley 2 9.39x
Burgh By Sands 2 317.46x
Distington 2 200.00x
Govan 2 1.11x
Horton In Bradford 2 5.71x
Lamplugh 2 204.08x
Liverpool 2 1.23x
St Cuthbert W O 2 21.05x
Temple 2 165.29x
West Derby 2 2.55x
Whitehaven 2 19.27x
Bermondsey 1 1.48x
Birkenhead 1 2.51x
Burslem 1 4.57x
Byker 1 6.01x
Caldewgate 1 9.37x
Chesterfield 1 7.53x
Cold Hesledon 1 1250.00x
Dearham 1 38.91x
Devonport 1 18.48x
Dewsbury 1 4.35x
Escomb 1 32.36x
Exeter St Lawrence 1 285.71x
Fareham 1 17.95x
Great Crosby 1 13.66x
Holy Trinity 1 1.85x
Kensington London 1 0.79x
Manchester 1 0.83x
Paddington London 1 1.20x
Pembroke St Mary 1 10.80x
Perth East Church 1 10.44x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.76x
South Common Lincoln 1 526.32x
St Cuthbert W O Carleton 1 185.19x
St Marylebone London 1 0.83x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.03x
Wallsend 1 9.36x
Withington 1 11.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 10
Margaret 7
Catherine 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Elizabeth 4
Hannah 4
Martha 4
Adelaide 2
Alice 2
Ann 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Hester 2
Louisa 2
Sara 2
Alicia 1
Amy 1
Barbra 1
Bridget 1
Dorothy 1
Effie 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
James 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lillie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margt.Ann 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Roseina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
James 12
William 12
Robert 9
Joseph 6
George 5
Edward 4
Arthur 3
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Baptist 1
Charles 1
Claude 1
Edmund 1
Fitzroy 1
Gordon 1
Harry 1
Jas.Thos.Bartley 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Robinson 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Squire 1

FAQ

Trimble surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trimble surname in 1881?

In 1881, 231 people were recorded with the Trimble surname. That placed it at #11,722 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trimble surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 817 in 2016. That gives Trimble a modern rank of #6,789.

What does the Trimble surname mean?

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a crossroads or a distinctive road junction.

What does the Trimble map show?

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