NameCensus.

UK surname

Ackerman

A toponymic surname of German origin referring to someone who lived near a cultivated field or acre.

In the 1881 census there were 506 people recorded with the Ackerman surname, ranking it #6,724 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,085, ranked #5,390, up from #6,724 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Wallditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Bridgend and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ackerman is 1,148 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.4%.

1881 census count

506

Ranked #6,724

Modern count

1,085

2016, ranked #5,390

Peak year

2014

1,148 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ackerman had 506 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,724 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,085 in 2016, ranked #5,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 906 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Ackerman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ackerman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ackerman 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 326 #7,814
1881 historical 506 #6,724
1891 historical 580 #6,577
1901 historical 778 #5,775
1911 historical 906 #4,926
1997 modern 1,101 #5,060
1998 modern 1,118 #5,189
1999 modern 1,109 #5,260
2000 modern 1,129 #5,161
2001 modern 1,110 #5,129
2002 modern 1,134 #5,150
2003 modern 1,091 #5,214
2004 modern 1,088 #5,235
2005 modern 1,057 #5,304
2006 modern 1,062 #5,286
2007 modern 1,081 #5,254
2008 modern 1,088 #5,266
2009 modern 1,081 #5,397
2010 modern 1,121 #5,350
2011 modern 1,106 #5,347
2012 modern 1,088 #5,340
2013 modern 1,112 #5,322
2014 modern 1,148 #5,210
2015 modern 1,120 #5,270
2016 modern 1,085 #5,390

Geography

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Where Ackermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Wallditch and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Bridgend, Bristol and Barnet. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Wallditch Dorset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 008 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
3 Bridgend 001 Bridgend
4 Bristol 008 Bristol, City of
5 Barnet 028 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ackerman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ackerman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ackerman, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Ackerman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ackerman 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ackerman 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

Ackerman 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

Ackerman 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 Ackerman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ackerman

The surname Ackerman is of German origin, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Middle High German word "acker," meaning "field" or "acre," combined with the word "man," signifying a person who worked or lived on a field or farm.

Ackerman is believed to have originated in the German states of Bavaria and Saxony, where many early records of the name can be found. In the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Ackermann, Ackerman, and Ackermann, reflecting regional spelling variations.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Ackerman can be found in the Kirchenbücher, or church records, of the town of Nördlingen in Bavaria, dating back to the late 16th century. These records mention several individuals with the surname Ackerman, indicating that the name was well-established in the region at that time.

As the name Ackerman spread throughout Germany and other parts of Europe, it was often associated with people who worked in agriculture or owned land. In some instances, the name may have been derived from specific place names containing the word "acker," such as Ackerstedt or Ackerhof.

Notable individuals with the surname Ackerman include:

1. Hans Ackerman (1549-1618), a German painter and engraver known for his religious and mythological works. 2. Rudolph Ackerman (1764-1834), a German-born British publisher and bookseller who established the Ackermann's Repository of Arts, a influential 19th-century periodical. 3. Carl Wilhelm Ackermann (1808-1879), a German artist and lithographer renowned for his landscape and architectural prints. 4. Louise Ackerman (1813-1890), a French poet and writer who published several volumes of poetry and prose. 5. Sophie Ackermann (1872-1945), a German-American philanthropist and social worker who founded the Ackermann Institute for Family Therapy.

The surname Ackerman has traveled across borders and continents, carried by immigrants and families seeking new opportunities. While its origins can be traced back to rural Germany, the name has become a part of the cultural tapestry of many nations, reflecting the diverse histories and experiences of those who bear it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ackerman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ackerman 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. Dorset leads with 114 Ackermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.98x.

County Total Index
Dorset 114 34.98x
Middlesex 94 1.89x
Surrey 58 2.40x
Somerset 55 6.88x
Glamorgan 29 3.35x
Oxfordshire 21 6.85x
Berkshire 19 5.10x
Kent 19 1.12x
Buckinghamshire 18 6.00x
Gloucestershire 16 1.64x
Hampshire 11 1.08x
Essex 8 0.82x
Warwickshire 7 0.56x
Monmouthshire 6 1.67x
Yorkshire 6 0.12x
Cornwall 5 0.89x
Northamptonshire 5 1.07x
Cheshire 4 0.36x
Royal Navy 3 5.07x
Worcestershire 3 0.46x
Brecknockshire 2 2.01x
Fife 2 0.68x
Devon 1 0.10x
Flintshire 1 0.75x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridport in Dorset leads with 34 Ackermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 506.71x.

Place Total Index
Bridport 34 506.71x
Islington London 26 5.40x
Allington 17 584.19x
Mitcham 17 111.18x
Walditch 16 4848.48x
Lambeth 15 3.46x
St Pancras London 15 3.75x
Upton Cum Chalvey 15 125.42x
Bedminster 14 18.64x
Bothenhampton 14 1538.46x
Chipping Norton 13 183.36x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 10 112.74x
Reading St Giles 10 27.34x
Somerton 10 306.75x
Yeovil 9 55.42x
Llangynwyd Higher 8 192.77x
Pitminster 8 340.43x
Battersea 7 3.83x
Burton Bradstock 7 434.78x
Corfe Castle 7 231.79x
Eltham 7 70.49x
Llantrisant 7 32.12x
Portsea 7 3.51x
Clerkenwell London 6 5.12x
Clifton 6 12.19x
Holy Trinity 6 5.07x
Kensington London 6 2.17x
Panteg 6 106.19x
Roath 6 15.28x
St George Hanover Square 6 6.86x
St George Martyr London 6 59.64x
Stoke Abbott 6 638.30x
Rotherhithe 5 8.15x
St Marylebone London 5 1.89x
Warkworth 5 119.05x
Abingdon St Helen 4 36.70x
Barnes 4 39.10x
Birmingham 4 0.96x
Llandaff 4 13.91x
Penge 4 12.61x
Reading St Mary 4 13.40x
St Austell 4 20.82x
Beckenham 3 13.54x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.39x
Blandford Forum 3 46.66x
Churchill 3 348.84x
Crewkerne 3 35.34x
Greenwich 3 3.80x
Hurdsfield 3 44.51x
Leyton 3 17.77x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.84x
Royal Navy 3 5.93x
Swansea Town 3 4.23x
Taunton St James 3 25.73x
Wandsworth 3 6.28x
West Ham 3 1.39x
Worcester St Martin 3 34.29x
Beaminster 2 55.25x
Bradpole 2 74.91x
Bradwell 2 47.28x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 11.32x
Elmstead 2 126.58x
Hackney London 2 0.72x
Hampstead London 2 2.59x
Kinghorn 2 32.05x
Leamington 2 24.10x
Llangattock 2 24.72x
Milton Under Wychwood 2 140.85x
Norwood 2 17.62x
Portsmouth 2 8.54x
Shoreditch London 2 0.93x
Symondsbury 2 96.15x
Tottenham 2 2.53x
West Camel 2 416.67x
Westminster St John 2 3.31x
Wincanton 2 48.66x
Lewisham 1 1.11x
Marazion 1 149.25x
Nantwich 1 7.85x
Tilehurst 1 13.28x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Ackerman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ackerman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 506 people were recorded with the Ackerman surname. That placed it at #6,724 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ackerman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,085 in 2016. That gives Ackerman a modern rank of #5,390.

What does the Ackerman surname mean?

A toponymic surname of German origin referring to someone who lived near a cultivated field or acre.

What does the Ackerman map show?

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