NameCensus.

UK surname

Akerman

An occupational surname referring to a ploughman or field laborer.

In the 1881 census there were 431 people recorded with the Akerman surname, ranking it #7,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 769, ranked #7,138, up from #7,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Upton with Chalvey, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochford, Swansea and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Akerman is 794 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.4%.

1881 census count

431

Ranked #7,555

Modern count

769

2016, ranked #7,138

Peak year

2000

794 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Akerman had 431 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 769 in 2016, ranked #7,138.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 693 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Akerman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Akerman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Akerman 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 365 #6,492
1861 historical 255 #9,699
1881 historical 431 #7,555
1891 historical 440 #8,216
1901 historical 568 #7,369
1911 historical 693 #6,131
1997 modern 748 #6,898
1998 modern 775 #6,934
1999 modern 789 #6,872
2000 modern 794 #6,816
2001 modern 768 #6,852
2002 modern 769 #6,986
2003 modern 742 #7,075
2004 modern 748 #7,033
2005 modern 731 #7,091
2006 modern 737 #7,081
2007 modern 751 #7,054
2008 modern 732 #7,244
2009 modern 748 #7,272
2010 modern 771 #7,234
2011 modern 763 #7,209
2012 modern 740 #7,303
2013 modern 767 #7,209
2014 modern 771 #7,205
2015 modern 773 #7,134
2016 modern 769 #7,138

Geography

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Where Akermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Upton with Chalvey, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Longborough with Bankfee and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochford, Swansea, Wiltshire, Calderdale and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 Longborough with Bankfee Gloucestershire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochford 004 Rochford
2 Swansea 011 Swansea
3 Wiltshire 022 Wiltshire
4 Calderdale 018 Calderdale
5 Aylesbury Vale 022 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Akerman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Akerman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Akerman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Akerman is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Akerman 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 Akerman 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 Akerman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Akerman

The surname AKERMAN has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "æcer" meaning field or acre, and "mann" meaning man. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who worked on or owned a field or farm.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Acermann" in Oxfordshire. The spelling variations at the time included Akerman, Akermann, Akreman, and Acremanne, among others.

In the 13th century, records show an Alanus Akerman living in Somerset in 1275. Another early record is that of John Akerman, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327.

The name AKERMAN has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Akerman Street in London and Akerman's Moor in Somerset. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname who resided or held land in those areas.

Notable historical figures with the surname AKERMAN include:

1. John Yonge Akerman (1806-1873), an English antiquary and numismatist. 2. Richard Akerman (1629-1692), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Westbury. 3. John Francis Akerman (1785-1846), an English antiquary and writer on numismatics. 4. James Ruskin Akerman (1823-1907), an English architect known for his work on churches and public buildings in London. 5. John Acerman (fl. 1420), an English composer and composer of sacred music during the Renaissance period.

While the surname AKERMAN has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and settlement. However, its origins can be traced back to the English countryside and the agricultural occupations of its earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Akerman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Akerman 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 119 Akermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 119 2.80x
Gloucestershire 50 6.01x
Wiltshire 39 10.39x
Surrey 32 1.55x
Dorset 29 10.41x
Warwickshire 27 2.52x
Buckinghamshire 24 9.36x
Berkshire 18 5.65x
Glamorgan 15 2.03x
Kent 15 1.04x
Somerset 15 2.20x
Herefordshire 8 4.60x
Oxfordshire 8 3.05x
Devon 6 0.68x
Essex 5 0.60x
Hampshire 4 0.46x
Lancashire 4 0.08x
Worcestershire 4 0.72x
Brecknockshire 3 3.54x
Channel Islands 2 1.59x
Derbyshire 2 0.30x
Lincolnshire 1 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Radnorshire 1 2.92x
Royal Navy 1 1.98x
Suffolk 1 0.19x
Sussex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broadwinsor in Dorset leads with 24 Akermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1318.68x.

Place Total Index
Broadwinsor 24 1318.68x
Islington London 21 5.11x
Hackney London 20 8.41x
Longborough 17 1847.83x
Langley Marish 13 412.70x
Aston 12 4.07x
Hillingdon 12 88.69x
Churcham 11 1486.49x
Cwmdu 11 122.22x
Melksham 11 168.71x
Shoreditch London 11 5.98x
Leamington Priors 10 37.98x
Newington 10 6.38x
Lewisham 9 11.66x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 10.54x
St Pancras London 9 2.64x
Bromham 8 473.37x
Lambeth 8 2.16x
Salisbury St Edmund 8 132.89x
Clewer 7 53.64x
East West Hanney 6 480.00x
Hammersmith London 6 5.74x
Iver 6 181.27x
Dartford 5 33.78x
North Petherton 5 90.74x
Pinner 5 134.41x
Ross 5 72.25x
Seaton 5 147.06x
Shalbourn 5 420.17x
Walthamstow 5 16.58x
Grimley 4 384.62x
Llandaff 4 16.27x
Poplar London 4 4.99x
St George Martyr London 4 46.57x
St Marylebone London 4 1.77x
Adlestrop 3 1250.00x
Birmingham 3 0.84x
Bourton On The Water 3 177.51x
Bow London 3 5.55x
Brecknock St John 3 41.90x
Charlton Adam 3 500.00x
Chelsea London 3 2.35x
Grafton 3 3333.33x
Hanworth 3 201.34x
Hereford St Owen 3 52.17x
Lechlade 3 175.44x
Maugersbury 3 375.00x
Moss Side 3 11.32x
Mosterton 3 638.30x
Shadwell London 3 25.27x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 16.33x
Wendover 3 108.30x
Acton 2 8.04x
Andover 2 24.33x
Chipping Norton 2 33.00x
Cirencester 2 17.75x
Derby St Peter 2 9.45x
Fisherton Anger 2 28.78x
Great Marlow 2 28.90x
Manningford Bruce 2 540.54x
Penge 2 7.38x
Portland 2 13.35x
Potterne 2 119.05x
Sark 2 238.10x
Sherborne 2 240.96x
St Luke London 2 2.94x
Stratford Under Castle 2 434.78x
Westbury On Trym 2 7.09x
Avebury 1 95.24x
Bristol St Michael 1 14.03x
Bristol Temple 1 18.25x
Devizes St James 1 20.04x
Fulham London 1 1.63x
Glastonbury 1 17.95x
Oxford St Ebbe 1 12.97x
Paddington London 1 0.64x
Richmond 1 3.45x
Royal Navy 1 2.31x
Shepton Mallet 1 13.05x
West Pennard 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 21
George 19
Thomas 17
James 16
Henry 14
Charles 10
Alfred 9
Edward 7
Joseph 7
Albert 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Frederick 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
David 2
Edwin 2
Jas. 2
Oliver 2
Samuel 2
Benjamin 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Garnett 1
Geo. 1
Harrold 1
Harry 1
Herman 1
Isaachar 1
June 1
Kirwin 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Simon 1
Tom 1
Victor 1
Wallace 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Akerman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Akerman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 431 people were recorded with the Akerman surname. That placed it at #7,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Akerman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 769 in 2016. That gives Akerman a modern rank of #7,138.

What does the Akerman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a ploughman or field laborer.

What does the Akerman map show?

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