NameCensus.

UK surname

Buckman

An English occupational surname referring to a male deer keeper or one who lived near male deer.

In the 1881 census there were 482 people recorded with the Buckman surname, ranking it #6,956 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 723, ranked #7,514, down from #6,956 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rudgwick, London parishes and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Shepway and Merton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Buckman is 756 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.

1881 census count

482

Ranked #6,956

Modern count

723

2016, ranked #7,514

Peak year

1911

756 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Buckman had 482 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,956 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016, ranked #7,514.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 756 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Buckman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Buckman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Buckman 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 338 #6,943
1861 historical 403 #6,372
1881 historical 482 #6,956
1891 historical 591 #6,465
1901 historical 676 #6,450
1911 historical 756 #5,711
1997 modern 689 #7,337
1998 modern 704 #7,445
1999 modern 725 #7,327
2000 modern 694 #7,540
2001 modern 680 #7,524
2002 modern 709 #7,436
2003 modern 690 #7,472
2004 modern 693 #7,463
2005 modern 691 #7,421
2006 modern 684 #7,510
2007 modern 718 #7,283
2008 modern 721 #7,316
2009 modern 742 #7,312
2010 modern 756 #7,340
2011 modern 727 #7,482
2012 modern 741 #7,298
2013 modern 751 #7,338
2014 modern 754 #7,342
2015 modern 742 #7,364
2016 modern 723 #7,514

Geography

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Where Buckmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rudgwick, London parishes, Brighton and Smarden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Shepway, Merton, Horsham and Isle of Wight. 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 Rudgwick Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Smarden Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 013 Waverley
2 Shepway 013 Shepway
3 Merton 014 Merton
4 Horsham 005 Horsham
5 Isle of Wight 004 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Buckman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Buckman

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Buckman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Buckman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Buckman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Buckman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Buckman

The surname Buckman is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the county of Buckinghamshire during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "bucc" meaning "buck" or "male deer" and "mann" meaning "man." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who worked as a hunter or gamekeeper.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Buckman can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Roger Buckman, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1221. The Curia Regis Rolls were official records of legal proceedings from the royal court during the reign of King Henry III.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Bocman, Bokeman, and Bocmann, reflecting the fluidity of spelling during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 recorded a Willelmus Bokeman in Oxfordshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 listed a Johannes Bocman in Yorkshire.

One notable historical figure with the surname Buckman was Sir William Buckman, who lived in the 15th century. He was a member of the gentry and held the position of High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in 1442. Another prominent individual was Thomas Buckman, a 16th-century clergyman who served as the Rector of Steeple Ashton in Wiltshire from 1577 until his death in 1614.

During the 17th century, the name Buckman was found in various parts of England, with concentrations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. In this period, Edward Buckman (1619-1665) was a noted English minister and author who published several religious works, including "The Holy Ghost Inditing" and "The Gospel Covenant Opened."

In the 18th century, John Buckman (1736-1812) was a renowned architect and surveyor from Buckinghamshire. He designed numerous buildings, including the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford and the Clarendon Printing House in Broad Street, Oxford.

As the name spread across England, it encountered variations in spelling, such as Buckeman, Bucknam, and Bucknum. However, the spelling "Buckman" remained the most common form throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Buckman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Buckman 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. Sussex leads with 157 Buckmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.76x.

County Total Index
Sussex 157 19.76x
Kent 108 6.72x
Surrey 107 4.66x
Middlesex 52 1.10x
Suffolk 18 3.14x
Warwickshire 8 0.67x
Essex 7 0.75x
Somerset 6 0.79x
Gloucestershire 5 0.54x
Dorset 4 1.29x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Hertfordshire 1 0.31x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 1.78x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 27 Buckmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.97x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 27 8.97x
Bethersden 26 1585.37x
Brighton 19 11.86x
Rudgwick 19 1049.72x
Woodchurch 15 750.00x
Burgh 13 3170.73x
Smarden 13 706.52x
Southwark St John 12 83.28x
East Grinstead 11 97.86x
West Hoathly 11 440.00x
Cranleigh 10 297.62x
Ditchling 10 462.96x
Streatham 9 25.74x
Hartfield 8 318.73x
Horsham 8 51.85x
Woolwich 8 13.47x
Battersea 7 4.04x
Edgbaston 7 19.00x
Heathfield 7 217.39x
Lambeth 7 1.70x
Mile End Old Town London 7 6.98x
Shipley 7 388.89x
Cliffe 6 165.29x
Cuckfield 6 74.81x
Ewhurst 6 416.67x
Limehouse London 6 11.60x
Newington 6 3.45x
Ringmer 6 267.86x
Walcot 6 14.86x
Bromley London 5 4.82x
Colchester St Martin 5 294.12x
Eltham 5 53.08x
Kirdford 5 181.16x
Lewes St John Southover 5 93.63x
Northfleet 5 35.31x
Rotherfield 5 71.53x
St George In East London 5 11.28x
Stoke Newington London 5 13.62x
Charlton 4 37.45x
Clapham 4 6.79x
Croydon 4 3.14x
Egerton 4 285.71x
Henfield 4 131.15x
Kensington London 4 1.53x
Lyminge 4 289.86x
Midhurst 4 153.85x
Penge 4 13.29x
Tenterden 4 70.55x
Woodmancote 4 714.29x
Bradford Abbas 3 365.85x
Chatham 3 6.78x
Grundisburgh 3 225.56x
Lewes All Sts 3 94.94x
St Marylebone London 3 1.19x
St Pancras London 3 0.79x
Westbury On Trym 3 9.58x
Westminster St John 3 5.23x
Wivelsfield 3 96.77x
Cheltenham 2 2.81x
Dorking 2 12.97x
Fittleworth 2 178.57x
Fulham London 2 2.93x
Horley 2 51.95x
Lewisham 2 2.33x
Norwood 2 18.57x
Petworth 2 42.19x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.41x
St Luke London 2 2.65x
Wandsworth 2 4.41x
Bawdsey 1 142.86x
Colchester St Runwald 1 200.00x
East Malling 1 26.04x
Hythe St Leonard 1 17.61x
Lee 1 4.28x
Lenham 1 31.15x
Leominster 1 39.06x
Lympne 1 109.89x
Over Whitley 1 204.08x
Paddington London 1 0.58x
Rolvenden 1 48.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 12
Annie 11
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Emma 7
Hannah 7
Jane 7
Caroline 6
Charlotte 6
Ellen 6
Emily 5
Frances 5
Maria 5
Rebecca 5
Ann 4
Harriett 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Eva 3
Flora 3
Gertrude 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Bessy 1
Celinda 1
Charles 1
Elizh. 1
Eve 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Kitty 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 29
John 18
Thomas 18
William 18
George 16
Charles 13
Henry 11
Alfred 8
Edward 8
Walter 7
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
David 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Percy 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Eli 1
Emanuel 1
H. 1
Harris 1
Herbert 1
Hezekia 1
Hezekiah 1
Horace 1
Jeremiah 1
Jerimiah 1
Job 1
Marks 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Myer 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Raymond 1
Richard 1
Simeon 1
Simion 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Buckman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Buckman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 482 people were recorded with the Buckman surname. That placed it at #6,956 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Buckman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016. That gives Buckman a modern rank of #7,514.

What does the Buckman surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a male deer keeper or one who lived near male deer.

What does the Buckman map show?

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