Find out how popular the last name Rimmer is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rimmer.

Rimmer, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rimmer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rimmer in America

Rimmer is the 9491st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rimmer surname appeared 3,426 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rimmer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rimmer to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rimmer

The surname Rimmer is believed to have originated in England in the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word 'rima' meaning 'rim' or 'edge'. It was initially an occupational name for a person who lived or worked near the edge or border of a town or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rimmer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Rymor'. This suggests that the name was already in use in parts of England during the 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name began to appear in various records and documents across different regions of England, with spellings such as 'Rymor', 'Rymour', and 'Rymmer'. These variations likely reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

In the 14th century, the name Rimmer was associated with several place names in England, including Rimmer's Croft in Lancashire and Rimmer's Lane in Cheshire. This indicates that the name had become well-established and linked to specific locations.

One notable historical figure with the surname Rimmer was William Rimmer (1816-1879), an American painter and sculptor born in Ramsbottom, Lancashire, England. He is renowned for his works depicting historical and mythological themes.

Another notable individual was Alfred Rimmer (1829-1893), an English artist and art critic who served as the curator of the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester for over 30 years.

In the 19th century, the name Rimmer was also associated with James Rimmer (1823-1907), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool and the surrounding areas.

Edith Rimmer (1887-1986) was a British author and playwright known for her novels and plays set in the industrial towns of northern England, providing insights into working-class life during that era.

Finally, one of the more recent notable figures with the surname Rimmer was Chris Rimmer (1936-2022), a British musician and composer who played an influential role in the development of electronic music in the UK.

These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals with the surname Rimmer throughout history, spanning various fields such as art, architecture, literature, and music.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rimmer

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rimmer.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rimmer was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rimmer has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Rimmer was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rimmer, please contact us.

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