NameCensus.

UK surname

Altman

A Jewish occupational surname referring to an old man or elder, derived from the Yiddish word "alt" meaning old.

In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Altman surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, up from #24,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Paddington, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, City of London and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Altman is 249 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 258.5%.

1881 census count

65

Ranked #24,420

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

2000

249 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Altman had 65 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 218 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Altman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Altman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Altman 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 65 #24,420
1891 historical 70 #28,073
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 218 #14,177
1997 modern 230 #16,109
1998 modern 246 #15,864
1999 modern 245 #16,012
2000 modern 249 #15,787
2001 modern 232 #16,314
2002 modern 232 #16,637
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 225 #16,882
2005 modern 218 #17,170
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 229 #16,941
2008 modern 218 #17,638
2009 modern 231 #17,331
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 234 #17,383
2012 modern 228 #17,584
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 226 #18,088
2015 modern 228 #17,899
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Altmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Paddington, London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrow, City of London, Barnet, Mid Sussex and Brent. 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 Paddington London (West Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrow 001 Harrow
2 City of London 001 City of London
3 Barnet 014 Barnet
4 Mid Sussex 011 Mid Sussex
5 Brent 006 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Altman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Altman

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Altman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Altman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Altman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Altman 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

Altman 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 Altman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Altman

The surname Altman originated in Germany, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the German words "alt" meaning old and "mann" meaning man, likely referring to an elderly or venerable individual. The name was initially found in southern regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.

Early variations of the spelling included Altemann, Altemannus, and Altemanger. The name is believed to have evolved from a descriptive nickname or occupational label for an elderly person or an elder of a community. In medieval times, such surnames were common as a way to distinguish individuals within small settlements.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Altman can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of medieval documents from Saxony, dating back to 1286. The entry mentions a "Johannes Altman" who was a resident of the town of Meissen.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across German-speaking regions, including the Stadtbücher (city books) of Nuremberg and the Württembergisches Urkundenbuch, a collection of historical documents from the state of Württemberg.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Altman throughout history include:

1. Johannes Altman (c. 1350 - 1420), a German theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Prague. 2. Hans Altman (1578 - 1638), a German composer and organist from Nuremberg, known for his sacred works. 3. Michał Altman (1610 - 1675), a Polish-Lithuanian nobleman and military officer who fought in the Khmelnytsky Uprising. 4. Johann Gottfried Altman (1720 - 1793), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets. 5. Viktor Altman (1869 - 1919), a Russian revolutionary and political activist, who was a member of the Bolshevik Party.

The surname Altman has also been associated with several place names in Germany, such as Altmannsdorf, a village in Saxony-Anhalt, and Altmannstein, a town in Bavaria. These toponyms likely originated from individuals bearing the surname who settled in or established these localities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Altman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Altman 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 38 Altmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 38 5.99x
Yorkshire 9 1.43x
Lincolnshire 6 5.92x
Norfolk 3 3.08x
Surrey 3 0.97x
Hampshire 2 1.54x
Staffordshire 2 0.93x
Cheshire 1 0.71x
Lancashire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 18 Altmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.30x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 18 29.30x
Kensington London 8 22.70x
Leeds 8 22.55x
Paddington London 8 34.32x
Great Grimsby 6 93.31x
Clapham 3 37.83x
Mile End Old Town London 3 22.24x
Norwich St James 3 394.74x
Aldershot 2 45.98x
Mucklestone 2 952.38x
All Hallows London Wall 1 1428.57x
Arclid 1 1428.57x
Bingley 1 25.00x
Everton 1 4.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Esther 2
M. 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Eda 1
Eliza 1
Ester 1
Eva 1
Evangeline 1
Fanny 1
G. 1
Harriet 1
Henqualta 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Johanna 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lowbeh 1
Madoline 1
Maria 1
Miriam 1
Paulina 1
Priscilla 1
Rebbecca 1
Sarah 1
V. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 3
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Lewis 2
A. 1
Aaron 1
Adolph 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Colman 1
E. 1
Edwd. 1
Emily 1
Granuello 1
Henry 1
Hyman 1
Isidore 1
James 1
John 1
M. 1
P. 1
S. 1
Simon 1
Solomon 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Altman households.

FAQ

Altman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Altman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Altman surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Altman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Altman a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Altman surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname referring to an old man or elder, derived from the Yiddish word "alt" meaning old.

What does the Altman map show?

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