NameCensus.

UK surname

Borman

Derived from Middle Low German, referring to someone who lived by a spring or well.

In the 1881 census there were 403 people recorded with the Borman surname, ranking it #7,933 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 372, ranked #12,539, down from #7,933 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm, Lincoln St Botolph and Caistor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincoln and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borman is 494 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.7%.

1881 census count

403

Ranked #7,933

Modern count

372

2016, ranked #12,539

Peak year

1911

494 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Borman had 403 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,933 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016, ranked #12,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 494 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Borman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Borman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Borman 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 279 #8,067
1861 historical 355 #7,198
1881 historical 403 #7,933
1891 historical 383 #9,178
1901 historical 428 #9,040
1911 historical 494 #7,886
1997 modern 383 #11,359
1998 modern 395 #11,452
1999 modern 417 #11,091
2000 modern 393 #11,540
2001 modern 393 #11,366
2002 modern 410 #11,226
2003 modern 393 #11,401
2004 modern 393 #11,433
2005 modern 379 #11,662
2006 modern 386 #11,537
2007 modern 403 #11,315
2008 modern 397 #11,556
2009 modern 395 #11,838
2010 modern 388 #12,271
2011 modern 391 #12,062
2012 modern 383 #12,099
2013 modern 378 #12,422
2014 modern 378 #12,512
2015 modern 365 #12,743
2016 modern 372 #12,539

Geography

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Where Bormans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm, Lincoln St Botolph, Caistor, London parishes and Clee. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincoln, Kingston upon Hull and East Lindsey. 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 Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm Lincolnshire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 Caistor Lincolnshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Clee Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 034 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Lincoln 004 Lincoln
3 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 East Lindsey 004 East Lindsey
5 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Borman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Borman

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Central and City

Within London, Borman is most associated with areas classed as Central and City, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 high density central neighbourhoods are characterised by high levels of residential turnover. Few children are in evidence. Few individuals experience live with disability, with many in full-time employment or study. Levels of separation or divorce are low relative to the Supergroup average. The workforce is well-educated but not in the top flight of managerial occupations. Levels of affiliation to non-Christian religions are high.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Borman is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Borman 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 Borman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Borman

The surname BORMAN is of German origin, emerging in the Middle Ages around the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word "bureman" or "boreman," which referred to a farmer or someone who lived on a farm or village. The name likely originated in the regions of modern-day Germany and Austria, particularly in rural areas where agriculture was a primary occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname BORMAN can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the medieval period. In this record, a certain "Heinricus Boreman" is mentioned as a landowner in the region of Saxony in 1241.

During the 13th century, the name BORMAN appeared in various forms, such as "Bormann," "Borrman," and "Bohrman," reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and scribal practices.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name BORMAN was Johannes Borman, a German scholar and theologian who lived between 1345 and 1420. He was renowned for his contributions to the study of canon law and served as a professor at the University of Prague.

Another prominent individual with the surname BORMAN was Hans Borman, a German artist and printmaker who lived from 1470 to 1530. He was known for his intricate woodcuts and engravings, many of which depicted religious scenes and mythological subjects.

In the 16th century, the BORMAN surname was also found in the Netherlands, where it was sometimes spelled as "Bormann." One notable figure from this period was Gerrit Borman, a Dutch merchant and explorer who played a role in the establishment of the Dutch West India Company in the early 1600s.

As the centuries passed, the BORMAN surname continued to spread across various regions of Europe, with branches emerging in countries like Sweden, Poland, and Russia. However, its roots remained firmly grounded in the German-speaking areas, where the name retained its connection to rural life and agricultural traditions.

Throughout history, the BORMAN surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including farmers, scholars, artists, and merchants. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its underlying meaning as a reference to rural origins has persisted, making it a testament to the enduring legacy of agricultural communities in Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Borman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borman 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. Lincolnshire leads with 265 Bormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.16x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 265 42.16x
Middlesex 30 0.76x
Yorkshire 29 0.74x
Kent 19 1.42x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.51x
Surrey 8 0.42x
Leicestershire 7 1.61x
Cornwall 5 1.12x
Durham 5 0.43x
Essex 5 0.64x
Hampshire 5 0.62x
Lancashire 4 0.09x
Gloucestershire 3 0.39x
Oxfordshire 3 1.24x
Devon 2 0.24x
Berkshire 1 0.34x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.63x
Derbyshire 1 0.16x
Suffolk 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 35 Bormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.74x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 35 87.74x
Grainthorpe 21 2234.04x
Caistor 18 720.00x
Skegness 14 777.78x
Tetney 14 1284.40x
Alford 12 307.69x
South Cave 11 852.71x
Habrough 10 1923.08x
Little Beats 10 50000.00x
Kirton 9 357.14x
Swallow 9 2812.50x
Cleethorpes 8 216.22x
Nettleton 8 1230.77x
Leicester St Margaret 7 6.59x
Louth 7 48.61x
Ealing 6 17.08x
Helpringham 6 472.44x
Nettleham 6 465.12x
St Pancras London 6 1.90x
Thornton Le Fen 6 1276.60x
Boston 5 26.22x
Holbeck 5 19.37x
Irby On Humber 5 1666.67x
Madron Penzance 5 30.90x
Waltham 5 500.00x
Whitechapel London 5 12.90x
Bracebridge 4 139.86x
Claxby Pluckacre 4 4444.44x
Gringley On Hill 4 357.14x
Hammersmith London 4 4.13x
Hampstead London 4 6.53x
Laceby 4 291.97x
Lee 4 20.54x
Maidstone 4 10.01x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 4 126.58x
Sittingbourne 4 37.77x
Southcoates 4 18.49x
Withcall 4 1250.00x
Beckenham 3 17.11x
Benniworth 3 588.24x
Holy Trinity 3 3.20x
Huttoft 3 370.37x
Kelstern 3 1304.35x
North Meols 3 6.57x
Oxford St Thomas 3 26.48x
Reigate Foreign 3 14.46x
West Ham 3 1.75x
Winlaton 3 26.74x
Wold Newton 3 1363.64x
Amber Hill 2 377.36x
Bocking 2 42.83x
Clee With Weelsby 2 14.53x
Cranbrook 2 35.21x
Leckhampton 2 42.11x
Middle Rasen 2 166.67x
Newington 2 1.38x
Saltfleetby St Peter 2 454.55x
Southampton All Sts 2 14.47x
St Martin Lincoln 2 34.31x
St Michael Lincoln 2 117.65x
St Swithin Lincoln 2 20.24x
Utterby 2 540.54x
Wildmore 2 243.90x
Wingate 2 24.94x
Bermondsey 1 0.85x
Binbrooke 1 63.69x
Bromley London 1 1.16x
Byfleet 1 58.82x
East Barkwith 1 217.39x
Hillingdon 1 7.98x
Kensington London 1 0.46x
Ludborough 1 212.77x
Norwood 1 11.12x
Sholden 1 192.31x
Shoreditch London 1 0.59x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.97x
Stallingborough 1 153.85x
Standard Hill 1 79.37x
Streatham 1 3.43x
Ynyscynhaiarn 1 13.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Ann 15
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 13
Emma 11
Eliza 9
Annie 7
Jane 7
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Rebecca 5
Betsy 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Hannah 4
Martha 4
Amelia 3
Caroline 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Florence 2
Clara 1
Colise 1
Connie 1
Edward 1
Eleanora 1
Elizh. 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florry 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
L.Edith 1
Lily 1
Lizzey 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
George 24
William 17
Charles 14
James 11
Thomas 9
Frederick 7
Richard 7
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Edmund 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Frank 4
Fred 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Herbert 2
King 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Abrham. 1
Allan 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Charlie 1
Eardly 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Hannah 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Job 1
Johan 1
Jonathon 1
Luk 1
Luke 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Simon 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Borman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Borman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 403 people were recorded with the Borman surname. That placed it at #7,933 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Borman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016. That gives Borman a modern rank of #12,539.

What does the Borman surname mean?

Derived from Middle Low German, referring to someone who lived by a spring or well.

What does the Borman map show?

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