NameCensus.

UK surname

Berman

A Jewish surname derived from the German word "bär" or Yiddish "ber," meaning "bear."

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Berman surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 606, ranked #8,646, up from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bournemouth, Hertsmere and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berman is 642 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 573.3%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

606

2016, ranked #8,646

Peak year

2013

642 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berman had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016, ranked #8,646.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 592 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Berman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Berman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Berman 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 307 #10,914
1901 historical 474 #8,382
1911 historical 592 #6,912
1997 modern 586 #8,283
1998 modern 622 #8,181
1999 modern 618 #8,282
2000 modern 627 #8,163
2001 modern 609 #8,208
2002 modern 608 #8,381
2003 modern 628 #8,032
2004 modern 627 #8,061
2005 modern 631 #7,964
2006 modern 600 #8,285
2007 modern 591 #8,450
2008 modern 602 #8,392
2009 modern 625 #8,328
2010 modern 639 #8,357
2011 modern 629 #8,370
2012 modern 617 #8,413
2013 modern 642 #8,295
2014 modern 630 #8,453
2015 modern 626 #8,439
2016 modern 606 #8,646

Geography

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Where Bermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bournemouth, Hertsmere 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bournemouth 021 Bournemouth
2 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere
3 Barnet 033 Barnet
4 Barnet 014 Barnet
5 Barnet 025 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Berman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Berman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berman, 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 Berman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Berman 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Berman 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

Berman 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

Berman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Berman 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Berman

The surname Berman originated in the Germanic regions of Europe, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old German words "ber" meaning bear and "mann" meaning man, suggesting that it may have been an occupational surname given to a bear hunter or someone who worked with bears.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Berman can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval documents from the 12th century, which mentions a person named "Bermannvs" in a land transaction in the region of modern-day Bavaria.

During the Middle Ages, the name Berman appeared in various forms such as "Bermann," "Berman," and "Behrmann," reflecting regional spelling variations. It is believed that the name was particularly prevalent in the regions of modern-day Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

In the 14th century, records from the city of Nuremberg mention a prominent citizen named Hans Berman, who was a successful merchant and served on the city council. Another notable figure bearing the name was Johann Berman, a German theologian and philosopher who lived in the 16th century and wrote extensively on religious matters.

As people began to migrate across Europe, the name Berman spread to other regions. In England, the earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 16th century, with a record of a marriage between John Berman and Elizabeth Greene in 1587 in the parish of St. Giles, London.

One of the most renowned individuals with the surname Berman was Jacob Berman (1688-1769), a Dutch mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics. He was a member of the prestigious Royal Society in London and corresponded with notable scientists of his time, including Isaac Newton.

Another notable figure was Adolph Berman (1825-1881), a German-American artist and lithographer who emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century. He is known for his lithographic portraits of prominent American figures, including Abraham Lincoln.

In the 20th century, one of the most influential individuals with the surname Berman was Irving Berman (1901-1989), an American film producer and executive who played a pivotal role in the development of the Hollywood studio system during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the surname Berman, which has its roots in the Germanic regions of Europe and has since spread across the globe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Berman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berman 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 27 Bermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.11x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 3.11x
Lancashire 17 1.65x
Warwickshire 9 4.11x
Oxfordshire 7 13.06x
Midlothian 5 4.30x
Hampshire 4 2.25x
Staffordshire 4 1.37x
Yorkshire 4 0.47x
Durham 3 1.16x
Gloucestershire 2 1.17x
Norfolk 2 1.50x
Surrey 2 0.47x
Cornwall 1 1.02x
Northamptonshire 1 1.22x
Northumberland 1 0.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 9 Bermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.34x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 9 12.34x
All Hallows London Wall 7 7777.78x
Garsington 7 3888.89x
Everton 5 15.23x
Cheetham 4 52.08x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 8.55x
Hampstead London 4 29.59x
Islington London 4 4.75x
Mile End New Town London 4 233.92x
Portsea 4 11.47x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 12.87x
Wigan 4 27.80x
Leeds 3 6.18x
Liverpool 3 4.80x
Old Artillery Ground 3 400.00x
Shoreditch London 3 7.97x
Stranton 3 34.52x
Norwich St James 2 190.48x
Bradford 1 4.80x
Duloe 1 344.83x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 36.36x
Hampton London 1 69.93x
Lambeth 1 1.32x
Lancaster 1 16.31x
Lydney 1 113.64x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 14.95x
Overstone 1 2000.00x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 81.30x
Stroud 1 30.21x
Wandsworth 1 11.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 5
Jane 3
Elizabeth 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Mary 2
Rachel 2
Rosina 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Bessey 1
Betsy 1
Blumah 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizbeth 1
Flora 1
Frederica 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Laura 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Marie 1
Paulina 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1
Yelta 1
Zelta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 2
Isaac 2
John 2
Moses 2
Thomas 2
Abraham 1
Abram 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Barnet 1
Benjamin 1
Benny 1
Carl 1
Davis 1
Edward 1
Elazarus 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Herman 1
Hyram 1
Iman 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Joshua 1
Julian 1
Julier 1
Leopold 1
Louis 1
Marks 1
Nathan 1
Sally 1
Tom 1
William 1
Wolf 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 Berman households.

FAQ

Berman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Berman surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 606 in 2016. That gives Berman a modern rank of #8,646.

What does the Berman surname mean?

A Jewish surname derived from the German word "bär" or Yiddish "ber," meaning "bear."

What does the Berman map show?

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