NameCensus.

UK surname

Acreman

An occupational surname referring to a plowman or one who plows fields.

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Acreman surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 345, ranked #13,321, up from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gelligaer, Moorlinch and Llandyfodog. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, South Somerset and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Acreman is 348 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 173.8%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

345

2016, ranked #13,321

Peak year

2014

348 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Acreman had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016, ranked #13,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 181 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Acreman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Acreman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Acreman 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 148 #18,212
1911 historical 181 #15,911
1997 modern 343 #12,349
1998 modern 340 #12,784
1999 modern 334 #13,022
2000 modern 321 #13,337
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 340 #12,884
2003 modern 330 #12,971
2004 modern 337 #12,818
2005 modern 325 #13,080
2006 modern 334 #12,912
2007 modern 324 #13,322
2008 modern 327 #13,350
2009 modern 329 #13,548
2010 modern 336 #13,613
2011 modern 341 #13,341
2012 modern 336 #13,376
2013 modern 345 #13,326
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 339 #13,493
2016 modern 345 #13,321

Geography

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Where Acremans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gelligaer, Moorlinch, Llandyfodog, Buckland, West and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, South Somerset, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Cornwall. 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 Gelligaer Glamorganshire
2 Moorlinch Somerset
3 Llandyfodog Glamorganshire
4 Buckland, West Somerset
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly
2 South Somerset 006 South Somerset
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 024 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Cornwall 068 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Acreman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Acreman

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Acreman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Acreman is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Acreman falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Acreman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Acreman

The surname Acreman is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "æcre" meaning "field" and "mann" meaning "man," suggesting it was an occupational name for someone who worked in the fields or was responsible for managing agricultural lands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Acreman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1197, where a certain William Acreman is mentioned. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, indicating that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

The Acreman surname is also documented in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record compiled in 1273 during the reign of King Edward I. This record lists several individuals with the surname, suggesting it was well-established in various parts of England by that time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem records, which were inquiries conducted after the death of landholders to determine their properties and heirs. One such record from 1341 mentions John Acreman, a landowner in the county of Somerset.

Throughout the centuries, the Acreman surname has also been associated with various place names, including Acreman's Green in Hertfordshire and Acreman's Farm in Warwickshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Notable individuals with the surname Acreman include:

1. John Acreman (c. 1550 - 1620), an English merchant and trader who played a significant role in establishing trade relations between England and the Ottoman Empire.

2. William Acreman (1718 - 1789), a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

3. Elizabeth Acreman (1785 - 1859), a prominent philanthropist and advocate for women's education in Bristol, England.

4. Charles Acreman (1834 - 1901), a British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a rear admiral.

5. Alfred Acreman (1867 - 1943), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party in the early 20th century.

While the surname Acreman may not be among the most common in modern times, its long history and presence in various historical records underscore its enduring legacy as a quintessentially English name with roots stretching back to the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Acreman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Acreman 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. Somerset leads with 76 Acremans recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.12x.

County Total Index
Somerset 76 38.12x
Gloucestershire 13 5.35x
Middlesex 11 0.89x
Glamorgan 8 3.71x
Pembrokeshire 7 17.78x
Wiltshire 7 6.39x
Devon 2 0.78x
Sussex 2 0.96x
Royal Navy 1 6.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Catcott in Somerset leads with 19 Acremans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8260.87x.

Place Total Index
Catcott 19 8260.87x
West Buckland 13 3421.05x
Ashcott 11 3666.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 43.73x
Charlton Mackrell 9 7500.00x
Gelligaer 8 162.27x
Fishguard 7 823.53x
Stockton 7 7000.00x
Street 6 555.56x
Bow London 5 31.71x
Lopen 5 3333.33x
St Pancras London 5 5.02x
Podimore Milton 4 10000.00x
Wellington 3 111.11x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 33.84x
Matson 2 6666.67x
North Barrow 2 4000.00x
Rogate 2 476.19x
Yatton 2 256.41x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 12.35x
Castle Cary 1 114.94x
Glastonbury 1 61.35x
Islington London 1 0.83x
Royal Navy 1 7.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Arthur 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
C.J. 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
F.L. 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Joanna 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Thersa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
Charles 8
John 7
George 5
James 5
Albert 4
Henry 4
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
A.Ll. 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Ivor 1
Maximilian 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Acreman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Acreman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Acreman surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Acreman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016. That gives Acreman a modern rank of #13,321.

What does the Acreman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a plowman or one who plows fields.

What does the Acreman map show?

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