UK surname
A surname of German origin possibly derived from the word "Ulme" meaning elm tree.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Ullmer surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ullmer is 100 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.7%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1911
100 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ullmer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ullmer surname density by area, 1911 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 30 | #30,188 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 100 | #22,717 |
| 1997 | modern | 77 | #29,874 |
| 1998 | modern | 80 | #29,966 |
| 1999 | modern | 80 | #30,152 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 74 | #30,600 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 67 | #31,796 |
| 2004 | modern | 67 | #31,976 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 66 | #32,629 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 63 | #34,002 |
| 2011 | modern | 56 | #34,450 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 69 | #33,808 |
| 2014 | modern | 73 | #33,587 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, St Matthew Bethnal Green and St Mary Islington. 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 Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | St Matthew Bethnal Green | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ullmer 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 Ullmer, 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 Ullmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ullmer 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, Ullmer 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 Ullmer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ullmer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ullmer has its origins in Germany, with records of the name dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "ulm," which referred to an elm tree. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have lived near or worked with elm trees.
In the late 13th century, a record of the name can be found in the form of "Ulmarius" in a document from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria. This Latin form of the name translates to "elm worker" or "elm grower," further reinforcing the connection to the elm tree.
By the 15th century, the spelling had evolved to the more recognizable "Ullmer." One notable individual with this surname was Hans Ullmer, a merchant and member of the city council in Nuremberg, who lived from 1420 to 1489.
The name also appears in the historic Görlitz Manuscript, a compilation of legal documents and records from the town of Görlitz in Saxony, dating back to the 16th century. In this manuscript, the name is spelled as "Ulmer" and is associated with various individuals involved in legal proceedings.
Another prominent figure bearing the Ullmer surname was Johann Ullmer, a Lutheran theologian and philosopher who lived from 1568 to 1629. He served as a professor at the University of Wittenberg and was known for his writings on logic and metaphysics.
In the 18th century, the name can be found in the records of the city of Cologne, where a family of Ullmers were prominent merchants and traders. One member of this family, Friedrich Ullmer (1732-1812), was a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city's infrastructure and social welfare initiatives.
During the 19th century, the Ullmer surname gained recognition in the field of engineering. Carl Ullmer (1818-1892) was a German civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of railways and bridges across Europe.
Throughout its history, the Ullmer surname has been associated with various occupations and professions, but its roots can be traced back to the elm tree and its significance in the early Germanic regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ullmer 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. Middlesex leads with 18 Ullmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.73x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 8 Ullmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.94x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newington | 8 | 56.94x |
| Islington London | 6 | 16.27x |
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 30.27x |
| Prittlewell | 5 | 480.77x |
| Shoreditch London | 5 | 30.32x |
| Ewell | 4 | 1025.64x |
| Portsea | 2 | 13.09x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 53.33x |
| Brighton | 1 | 7.73x |
| Greenock Oldor West | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ullmer 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 Ullmer 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 Ullmer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Printers Engine (Driver) | 3 |
| Confectioner | 2 |
| Pastry Cook | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Bag Maker (Paper) | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Litho Printer | 1 |
| Narrow Silk Ribbon Weaver | 1 |
| Pastry Cook (Confectioner) | 1 |
| Printing Material Manufacturer Employing 22 Hands | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Ullmer surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Ullmer a modern rank of #34,017.
A surname of German origin possibly derived from the word "Ulme" meaning elm tree.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ullmer 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.