NameCensus.

UK surname

Bullman

A surname denoting a person who herded cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Bullman surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 449, ranked #10,816, down from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newhaven, London parishes and Soham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Trafford and Cambridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bullman is 480 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.9%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

449

2016, ranked #10,816

Peak year

1998

480 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bullman had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016, ranked #10,816.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 328 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bullman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bullman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bullman 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 181 #11,256
1861 historical 183 #12,903
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 293 #11,829
1911 historical 328 #10,714
1997 modern 442 #10,209
1998 modern 480 #9,909
1999 modern 474 #10,055
2000 modern 473 #10,049
2001 modern 449 #10,254
2002 modern 451 #10,429
2003 modern 454 #10,222
2004 modern 461 #10,107
2005 modern 464 #9,976
2006 modern 449 #10,255
2007 modern 458 #10,190
2008 modern 448 #10,458
2009 modern 452 #10,629
2010 modern 453 #10,858
2011 modern 461 #10,582
2012 modern 460 #10,498
2013 modern 449 #10,850
2014 modern 448 #10,946
2015 modern 448 #10,854
2016 modern 449 #10,816

Geography

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Where Bullmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newhaven, London parishes, Soham, Swaffham and Wicken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Trafford, Cambridge, Basildon and Mid Suffolk. 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 Newhaven Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Soham Cambridgeshire
4 Swaffham Norfolk
5 Wicken Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 Trafford 017 Trafford
3 Cambridge 004 Cambridge
4 Basildon 010 Basildon
5 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bullman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bullman

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Bullman is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Bullman is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bullman falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bullman 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 Bullman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bullman

The surname Bullman is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. This name is thought to derive from the Old English words "bul" and "mann," which together translate to "herdsman" or "bull keeper."

In its earliest form, the name was likely spelled as "Bulman" or "Bulemannus," reflecting its Old English roots. As the surname evolved over time, variations such as "Bullman," "Bulmen," and "Bullmen" emerged, with the double "l" spelling becoming more common in later centuries.

Historical records indicate that the Bullman surname was prevalent in various parts of England, particularly in the northern counties such as Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Durham. This geographical distribution aligns with the name's probable origins as a occupational descriptor for those responsible for managing and tending to herds of cattle.

One of the earliest documented references to the Bullman surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a certain "Willelmus Bulleman" is mentioned. Additionally, the Bullman name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland from 1296, indicating its presence in that region during the late medieval period.

Notable individuals bearing the Bullman surname throughout history include:

1. John Bullman (c. 1595 - 1667), an English playwright and actor active during the Jacobean and Caroline eras. 2. William Bullman (1770 - 1836), a British artist and engraver known for his landscapes and topographical views. 3. Elizabeth Bullman (1807 - 1891), an English author and poet who wrote extensively on religious themes. 4. Sir Thomas Bullman (1845 - 1920), a British politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament for the Conservative Party. 5. George Bullman (1891 - 1972), an Australian cricketer who played domestic first-class cricket for New South Wales in the early 20th century.

While the Bullman surname has its roots in the English countryside, over the centuries, it has spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other regions, carried by individuals and families who immigrated from England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bullman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bullman 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 75 Bullmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.15x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 75 42.15x
Middlesex 66 2.35x
Norfolk 27 6.25x
Kent 15 1.57x
Lancashire 15 0.45x
Surrey 14 1.02x
Yorkshire 12 0.43x
Durham 10 1.20x
Sussex 10 2.11x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.38x
Suffolk 9 2.63x
Essex 6 1.08x
Northumberland 5 1.20x
Westmorland 4 6.48x
Cheshire 2 0.32x
Huntingdonshire 2 3.59x
Staffordshire 2 0.21x
Berkshire 1 0.47x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Lincolnshire 1 0.22x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wicken in Cambridgeshire leads with 35 Bullmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4320.99x.

Place Total Index
Wicken 35 4320.99x
Soham 23 600.52x
Shadwell London 17 216.29x
Liverpool 11 5.43x
Newhaven 10 259.74x
Hackney London 9 5.71x
Downham Market 8 269.36x
Kensington London 8 5.12x
Kennington 7 985.92x
Mile End New Town London 7 126.13x
Swaffham 7 199.43x
Ashford 6 64.31x
Gateshead 6 9.59x
Great Yarmouth 6 16.77x
Islington London 6 2.20x
West Ham 6 4.90x
Chippenham 5 806.45x
Fetcham 5 1086.96x
Fordham 5 434.78x
Lambeth 5 2.04x
Mildenhall 5 137.36x
Sheffield 5 5.64x
Newark Upon Trent 4 29.39x
Heigham 3 12.94x
Hucknall Torkard 3 31.25x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 54.55x
Shoreditch London 3 2.46x
St Andrewthe Less 3 14.76x
St George Hanover Square 3 6.06x
St George In East London 3 11.36x
Appleby St Michael 2 143.88x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.64x
Birkenhead 2 4.05x
Everton 2 1.88x
Exning 2 115.61x
Leeds 2 1.27x
Newmarket All Sts 2 152.67x
Normanby In 2 26.88x
Nottingham St Mary 2 2.04x
Rotherhithe 2 5.76x
St Bride London 2 122.70x
St Marylebone London 2 1.33x
Sunderland 2 13.55x
Wandsworth 2 7.40x
Wednesbury 2 8.44x
Westgate 2 7.73x
Aldershot 1 5.18x
Ardwick 1 3.33x
Aston 1 0.51x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.39x
Bromley 1 6.84x
Chatteris 1 22.03x
Claypole 1 153.85x
Cromer 1 64.94x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 1 67.11x
Holy Trinity 1 1.49x
Huntingdon St Benedict 1 142.86x
Ilkley 1 21.98x
Ixworth 1 103.09x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.67x
Newby 1 416.67x
Newmarket St Mary 1 38.02x
Norwich St Lawrence 1 169.49x
Paddington London 1 0.97x
Reading St Giles 1 4.83x
Reedham 1 120.48x
Rotherham 1 6.37x
Sandwich St Clement 1 123.46x
Somersham 1 74.07x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 100.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.44x
Stourbridge 1 10.59x
Toxteth Park 1 0.89x
Twickenham 1 8.30x
Winlaton 1 12.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Ann 10
Jane 10
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 6
Martha 5
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Harriett 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Julia 3
Maria 3
Bessie 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Josephine 2
Lina 2
Lydia 2
Rosetta 2
Susan 2
Bathsheba 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elline 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Hephzibah 1
Isabel 1
Johannah 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Marien 1
Melessa 1
Minnie 1
Naomi 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 15
Thomas 13
Charles 8
George 8
James 7
Joseph 7
Alfred 5
Henry 5
Edward 4
Robert 4
Richard 3
Robt. 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Levi 2
Matthew 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Cornelious 1
Cross 1
Dennis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Giles 1
Herbet 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Luke 1
Moses 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Wilfrey 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Bullman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bullman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Bullman surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bullman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 449 in 2016. That gives Bullman a modern rank of #10,816.

What does the Bullman surname mean?

A surname denoting a person who herded cattle.

What does the Bullman map show?

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