NameCensus.

UK surname

Trimby

A locational surname derived from a location called Trimby, possibly associated with the Old English words "trum" (strong) and "by" (dwelling).

In the 1881 census there were 214 people recorded with the Trimby surname, ranking it #12,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 319, ranked #14,121, down from #12,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Upton with Chalvey, London parishes and East and West Tisbury, Wardour. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Hawick Central and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trimby is 330 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.1%.

1881 census count

214

Ranked #12,284

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

1998

330 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trimby had 214 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 289 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trimby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trimby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trimby 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 151 #15,209
1881 historical 214 #12,284
1891 historical 277 #11,784
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 289 #11,738
1997 modern 314 #13,136
1998 modern 330 #13,046
1999 modern 325 #13,257
2000 modern 324 #13,243
2001 modern 316 #13,258
2002 modern 324 #13,305
2003 modern 321 #13,218
2004 modern 318 #13,374
2005 modern 318 #13,302
2006 modern 311 #13,577
2007 modern 312 #13,674
2008 modern 307 #13,907
2009 modern 307 #14,192
2010 modern 321 #14,066
2011 modern 327 #13,754
2012 modern 325 #13,720
2013 modern 329 #13,810
2014 modern 327 #13,976
2015 modern 324 #13,965
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

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Where Trimbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Upton with Chalvey, London parishes, East and West Tisbury, Wardour, Kilmington and Kingston Deverill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Hawick Central, Bournemouth and Rother. 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 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 East and West Tisbury, Wardour Wiltshire
4 Kilmington Wiltshire
5 Kingston Deverill Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 003 Tendring
2 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
3 Bournemouth 003 Bournemouth
4 Rother 011 Rother
5 Rother 007 Rother

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trimby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trimby

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Trimby is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Trimby 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

Trimby falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Trimby

The surname TRIMBY has its origins in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from an Old English word "trymmen" meaning "to trim or make neat", combined with the suffix "-by" denoting a village or hamlet. This suggests the name may have originally referred to a person who lived near a well-kept or neatly trimmed settlement.

One of the earliest recorded references to the TRIMBY name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a John de Trymby residing in the village of Settle. A similar entry appears in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1401, mentioning a Robert Trymby from the town of Clitheroe.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, variations in spelling such as Trymbie, Trymbye, and Trymby were common, reflecting the evolving nature of the English language at the time. The name was also occasionally associated with certain place names, such as Trimble in Lincolnshire and Trembley in Shropshire, further contributing to its regional diversity.

Notable individuals bearing the TRIMBY surname include Sir John Trimby (1542-1612), a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another figure of note was William Trimby (1690-1768), a renowned clockmaker from Kendal, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the English gentry of the 18th century.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with the 19th-century novelist and poet, Emily Trimby (1818-1892), whose works often explored themes of social injustice and the plight of the working class. Her most celebrated work, "The Mill Girl's Tale", remains a classic of Victorian literature.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the achievements of Sir Thomas Trimby (1902-1989), a pioneering aviator and one of the first British pilots to cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane. His daring exploits earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Air Force Cross.

Throughout its long history, the TRIMBY surname has maintained a strong presence in the northern regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it first originated. While its meaning and spelling have evolved over the centuries, the name remains a testament to the rich tapestry of English heritage and the enduring legacy of those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trimby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trimby 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. Wiltshire leads with 62 Trimbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.59x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 62 33.59x
Somerset 41 12.20x
Hampshire 17 3.97x
Surrey 17 1.67x
Dorset 13 9.49x
Middlesex 13 0.62x
Buckinghamshire 11 8.72x
Gloucestershire 9 2.20x
Essex 8 1.94x
Lancashire 7 0.28x
Glamorgan 6 1.65x
Yorkshire 4 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 1.39x
Devon 1 0.23x
Kent 1 0.14x
Radnorshire 1 5.94x
Sussex 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingston Deverill in Wiltshire leads with 21 Trimbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10500.00x.

Place Total Index
Kingston Deverill 21 10500.00x
Horningsham 15 2586.21x
Upton Cum Chalvey 11 218.69x
Marston Bigott 9 3461.54x
Bath St Michael 8 470.59x
Bristol St George 8 42.26x
Loughton 8 392.16x
Micheldever 8 1081.08x
Mells 7 1014.49x
Bourton 6 1000.00x
Cwmdu 6 135.44x
Kilmington 6 1764.71x
St Marylebone London 6 5.38x
West Derby 6 8.28x
Fisherton Anger 5 146.20x
Netheravon 5 1190.48x
West Moulsey 5 1063.83x
East Knoyle 4 634.92x
Holdenhurst 4 35.65x
Monk Bretton 4 191.39x
Weybridge 4 183.49x
Winterborne Houghton 4 2222.22x
East Tisbury 3 468.75x
Frome 3 37.31x
Long Ditton 3 180.72x
Weeke 3 230.77x
Evercreech 2 246.91x
Kensington London 2 1.72x
Salisbury St Edmund 2 67.57x
Salisbury St Martin 2 104.17x
Trowbridge 2 24.51x
Walcot 2 11.18x
Acton 1 8.17x
Aldershot 1 6.98x
Baverstock 1 1111.11x
Bedminster 1 3.17x
Blackburn 1 1.52x
Blackford 1 1000.00x
Brighton 1 1.41x
Britford 1 81.97x
Chelsea London 1 1.59x
Cheltenham 1 3.17x
Chetnole 1 588.24x
Chipping Barnet 1 39.68x
Croydon 1 1.77x
Devonport 1 20.04x
East Molesey 1 42.37x
Fonthill Gifford 1 294.12x
Gillingham 1 42.55x
Henstridge 1 107.53x
Lewisham 1 2.63x
Lymington 1 31.85x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 11.36x
Mile End Old Town 1 3.03x
Newington 1 1.30x
Presteigne 1 93.46x
Putney 1 10.52x
St Pancras London 1 0.60x
Sutton 1 13.59x
Ware 1 24.27x
Westminster St John 1 3.93x
Wimborne Minster 1 45.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 10
Emma 8
Mary 8
Sarah 7
Alice 5
Amelia 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Lucy 4
Ann 3
Clara 3
Ellen 3
Ethel 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Gertrude 2
Isabel 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Harreitt 1
Henrietta 1
Julia 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Tereasa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
James 10
John 10
George 9
Charles 5
Walter 5
Enoch 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Henry 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Libbins 2
Samuel 2
Abner 1
Alfred 1
Caleb 1
Edward 1
Egbert 1
Emanuel 1
Eneus 1
Francis 1
Geo.S. 1
Harnold 1
Josiah 1
Oliver 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Uriah 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Trimby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trimby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 214 people were recorded with the Trimby surname. That placed it at #12,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trimby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Trimby a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Trimby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a location called Trimby, possibly associated with the Old English words "trum" (strong) and "by" (dwelling).

What does the Trimby map show?

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