NameCensus.

UK surname

Zimmer

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived in or worked in a room, chamber, or dwelling.

In the 1881 census there were 82 people recorded with the Zimmer surname, ranking it #21,957 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 248, ranked #16,910, up from #21,957 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, St Leonard Shoreditch and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Guildford and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Zimmer is 249 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 202.4%.

1881 census count

82

Ranked #21,957

Modern count

248

2016, ranked #16,910

Peak year

2014

249 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Zimmer had 82 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,957 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016, ranked #16,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 160 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Zimmer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Zimmer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Zimmer 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 82 #21,957
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 122 #20,344
1911 historical 160 #17,151
1997 modern 203 #17,457
1998 modern 218 #17,159
1999 modern 217 #17,307
2000 modern 216 #17,340
2001 modern 212 #17,324
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 223 #16,905
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 224 #17,685
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 229 #17,633
2012 modern 248 #16,618
2013 modern 244 #17,072
2014 modern 249 #16,954
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 248 #16,910

Geography

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Where Zimmers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, St Leonard Shoreditch, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Guildford, Barnet, Cornwall and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire
2 Guildford 002 Guildford
3 Barnet 014 Barnet
4 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Zimmer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Zimmer

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Zimmer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Zimmer is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Zimmer falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Zimmer 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Zimmer

The surname Zimmer has its roots in the German language and is believed to have originated in the regions of Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. It is derived from the German word "Zimmermann," which means "carpenter" or "woodworker." This suggests that the name was likely given to those who worked as carpenters or woodworkers during the Middle Ages.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Zimmer can be traced back to the 13th century in various German-speaking regions. In medieval times, surnames were often derived from occupations, and the name Zimmer was no exception. It was commonly used to identify individuals involved in the construction and woodworking trades.

One of the earliest known references to the name Zimmer can be found in the Nuremberg Chronicle, a German chronicle published in 1493. This historical document mentions a Hans Zimmer, a prominent figure in the city of Nuremberg during the 15th century.

Another notable historical figure with the surname Zimmer was Johann Georg Zimmermann (1728-1795), a Swiss philosopher and writer. He was best known for his work "On National Pride," which explored themes of patriotism and national identity. His influential writings contributed to the intellectual discourse of his time.

In the 16th century, a Johann Zimmer (1518-1553) was a renowned composer and organist from Germany. He composed several works for the organ and is considered one of the important figures in the development of early Protestant church music.

The name Zimmer has also been associated with place names in various regions of Germany and Switzerland. For instance, the town of Zimmerwald in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, is believed to have derived its name from the German word "Zimmer," referring to the construction of houses or buildings in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Zimmer include Hans Zimmer (born 1957), a German film composer and record producer best known for his work on acclaimed movies such as "Inception," "Interstellar," and "Dunkirk." Additionally, there is Heiner Zimmer (born 1948), a German theoretical physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics.

Throughout history, the surname Zimmer has been associated with various occupations, artistic pursuits, and scholarly endeavors. While its origins can be traced back to the woodworking and construction trades, the name has evolved to encompass a diverse range of individuals and achievements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Zimmer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Zimmer 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. Middlesex leads with 40 Zimmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.00x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 40 5.00x
Surrey 14 3.59x
Kent 8 2.93x
Lancashire 8 0.84x
Hertfordshire 4 7.26x
Berkshire 2 3.33x
Yorkshire 2 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 1.13x
Staffordshire 1 0.37x
Suffolk 1 1.03x
Wiltshire 1 1.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 23 Zimmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.34x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 23 66.34x
Croydon 11 50.86x
Tonbridge 8 81.30x
Islington London 6 7.74x
Watford 4 93.68x
Bury 3 27.68x
Chorley 3 56.29x
Bromley London 2 11.36x
Chelsea London 2 8.30x
Mile End Old Town 2 15.84x
Newington 2 6.77x
Shadwell London 2 89.29x
St Martin In Fields 2 41.75x
Thornaby 2 67.57x
Camberwell 1 1.96x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 30.21x
Leicester St Margaret 1 4.62x
Liverpool 1 1.73x
Reading St Giles 1 16.98x
Stone 1 28.99x
Walton On Hill 1 19.46x
Whitechapel London 1 12.69x
Windsor Castle 1 2000.00x
Winterbourne Earls 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Margaret 5
Emily 4
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Sarah 2
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emley 1
Emma 1
Gartrut 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Johanne 1
Kardina 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Louge 1
Louisa 1
Marie 1
Maude 1
Miteldur 1
Rebecca 1
Rossina 1
Wilhelm 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 4
William 4
Frederick 3
George 3
James 3
John 3
Jacob 2
Peter 2
Adam 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Conrad 1
David 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Gustav 1
Johan 1
Johann 1
Matthew 1
Menki 1
Nathan 1

FAQ

Zimmer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Zimmer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 82 people were recorded with the Zimmer surname. That placed it at #21,957 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Zimmer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 248 in 2016. That gives Zimmer a modern rank of #16,910.

What does the Zimmer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who lived in or worked in a room, chamber, or dwelling.

What does the Zimmer map show?

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