NameCensus.

UK surname

Bulman

A locational surname derived from place names like Bulman Village in Cumbria, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,097 people recorded with the Bulman surname, ranking it #3,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,353, ranked #4,454, down from #3,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newcastle St Andrew, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ceredigion and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bulman is 1,416 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.3%.

1881 census count

1,097

Ranked #3,619

Modern count

1,353

2016, ranked #4,454

Peak year

2010

1,416 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bulman had 1,097 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,353 in 2016, ranked #4,454.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,374 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Bulman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bulman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bulman 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 762 #3,497
1861 historical 643 #4,172
1881 historical 1,097 #3,619
1891 historical 1,048 #3,994
1901 historical 1,283 #3,880
1911 historical 1,374 #3,499
1997 modern 1,342 #4,287
1998 modern 1,371 #4,345
1999 modern 1,360 #4,416
2000 modern 1,343 #4,442
2001 modern 1,321 #4,429
2002 modern 1,317 #4,522
2003 modern 1,282 #4,534
2004 modern 1,293 #4,509
2005 modern 1,311 #4,406
2006 modern 1,295 #4,459
2007 modern 1,318 #4,435
2008 modern 1,339 #4,402
2009 modern 1,367 #4,406
2010 modern 1,416 #4,366
2011 modern 1,383 #4,404
2012 modern 1,349 #4,424
2013 modern 1,360 #4,474
2014 modern 1,355 #4,511
2015 modern 1,347 #4,494
2016 modern 1,353 #4,454

Geography

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Where Bulmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newcastle St Andrew, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ceredigion and Carlisle. 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 Newcastle St Andrew Northumberland
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion
2 Carlisle 009 Carlisle
3 Carlisle 008 Carlisle
4 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
5 Carlisle 003 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bulman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bulman

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bulman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bulman is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bulman falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bulman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bulman

The surname Bulman is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "bulg" or "bul," which referred to a pouch or bag. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname, given to someone who worked as a bag maker or seller.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bulman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants in England following the Norman Conquest. The name appears as "Bulman" in this historical record, indicating its existence in the late 11th century.

The Bulman surname was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Northumberland. It is likely that the name originated in these regions and then spread to other parts of the country over time.

During the 13th century, the name Bulman appeared in various forms, including "Bulman," "Bulmane," and "Bulmane." These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling practices in the Middle Ages.

One notable figure bearing the Bulman surname was Sir William Bulman, a 14th-century knight and landowner from Northumberland. He was actively involved in the Scottish Wars of Independence and fought alongside King Edward III.

In the 16th century, the Bulman family was prominent in the Yorkshire area. John Bulman (1511-1578) was a respected merchant and alderman in the city of York, known for his philanthropic endeavors.

Moving into the 17th century, Richard Bulman (1620-1688) was a prominent Quaker preacher and writer from Northumberland. His works, including "A Message to the Professors of this Age," gained popularity among religious communities of the time.

During the 18th century, the Bulman name gained recognition in the literary world. Thomas Bulman (1752-1821) was an English poet and author, known for his works such as "The Poetical Attempts" and "Poems on Various Subjects."

In the 19th century, William Bulman (1825-1901) was a notable architect from Yorkshire, responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the region, including the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Haworth.

These examples illustrate the long-standing history and diverse backgrounds of individuals bearing the surname Bulman, reflecting its English origins and presence across various regions and professions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bulman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bulman 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. Cumberland leads with 268 Bulmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.25x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 268 29.25x
Northumberland 231 14.59x
Durham 186 5.87x
Yorkshire 119 1.13x
Lancashire 65 0.51x
Norfolk 48 2.93x
Middlesex 32 0.30x
Surrey 23 0.44x
Gloucestershire 15 0.72x
Somerset 15 0.88x
Roxburghshire 14 7.26x
Essex 12 0.57x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.70x
Westmorland 9 3.85x
Lanarkshire 8 0.23x
Staffordshire 7 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.74x
Cheshire 5 0.21x
Glamorgan 5 0.27x
Midlothian 4 0.28x
Sussex 3 0.17x
Kent 2 0.06x
Lincolnshire 2 0.12x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.43x
Royal Navy 1 0.79x
Shropshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newcastle On Tyne St in Northumberland leads with 37 Bulmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.08x.

Place Total Index
Newcastle On Tyne St 37 45.08x
Westgate 31 31.61x
St Cuthbert W O 23 51.50x
Caldewgate 21 41.83x
Byker 20 25.55x
Gayton 19 688.41x
Allendale 18 122.62x
Hexham 16 65.28x
Hesket In Forest 15 209.79x
Kirkleatham 15 105.34x
St Cuthbert W O Upperby 15 597.61x
Tynemouth 15 17.69x
Wetheral 15 123.66x
Aikton 14 484.43x
Cockermouth 14 72.58x
Gateshead 14 5.91x
Workington 14 26.69x
Beverley St Nicholas 12 138.73x
Skelton In Guisbrough 12 42.06x
Harwich St Nicholas 11 67.78x
Liverpool 11 1.43x
Shepton Mallet 11 57.23x
Bishopwearmouth 10 3.68x
Coanwood 10 1562.50x
Holy Trinity 10 3.94x
Stanwix 10 134.77x
Beaumont 9 1046.51x
Beverley St Martin 9 51.14x
Clifton 9 8.53x
Corbridge 9 155.17x
Cornforth 9 96.57x
Kensington London 9 1.52x
Stainton 9 293.16x
West Auckland 9 77.72x
Whickham 9 30.90x
East Thickley 8 124.61x
Elwick 8 963.86x
Everton 8 1.99x
Glasgow 8 1.31x
Lanchester 8 137.69x
Lofthouse 8 50.79x
Monkwearmouth 8 26.39x
Old Park 8 239.52x
St Cuthbert Within 8 75.33x
St Mary Within 8 69.87x
Stockton On Tees 8 5.24x
Cavers 7 145.23x
Chirton 7 19.53x
Hethersgill 7 324.07x
Kirkbride 7 526.32x
Manchester 7 1.23x
Openshaw 7 11.84x
Rickergate 7 36.10x
Toxteth Park 7 1.64x
Tweedmouth 7 35.46x
West Derby 7 1.89x
Burtholme 6 512.82x
Camberwell 6 0.88x
Chelsea London 6 1.87x
Croydon 6 2.08x
Danby 6 140.85x
Fylingdales 6 114.07x
Guisbrough 6 26.03x
Hetton Le Hole 6 14.96x
Kingwater 6 495.87x
Leeds 6 1.01x
Medomsley 6 40.62x
Newark Upon Trent 6 11.64x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 6.34x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 6 28.82x
Preston In Tynemouth 6 96.31x
Redcar 6 71.68x
Witton Le Wear 6 66.82x
Great Yarmouth 5 3.69x
Handsworth 5 5.65x
Happisburgh 5 245.10x
Kirkbampton 5 326.80x
Muggleswick 5 162.87x
Nether Denton 5 423.73x
Wallsend 5 9.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 104
Elizabeth 47
Jane 45
Margaret 43
Sarah 40
Ann 25
Isabella 21
Annie 17
Eliza 16
Hannah 13
Ellen 12
Frances 12
Catherine 8
Florence 7
Anne 6
Emma 6
Martha 6
Alice 5
Edith 5
Margt. 5
Charlotte 4
Fanny 4
Margret 4
Barbara 3
Eliz. 3
Emily 3
Grace 3
Kate 3
May 3
Ada 2
Alexandra 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Dora 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Elin 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Francis 2
Hanah 2
Isabel 2
Jessie 2
Joanna 2
Maria 2
Mercy 2
Minnie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 82
William 68
Thomas 50
Joseph 43
George 34
James 34
Robert 27
Charles 13
Henry 11
Edward 10
Richard 6
Matthew 5
Christopher 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Edmund 3
Frederick 3
Jonah 3
Reginald 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
A. 2
Adamson 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred. 2
Frederic 2
Herbert 2
Jacob 2
Jonathan 2
Robt. 2
Robt.D. 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Augleritz 1
Chas 1
Ernest 1
Federic 1
Fergus 1
Fred 1
Geo.Edwd. 1
J.D. 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Johnson 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Bulman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bulman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,097 people were recorded with the Bulman surname. That placed it at #3,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bulman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,353 in 2016. That gives Bulman a modern rank of #4,454.

What does the Bulman surname mean?

A locational surname derived from place names like Bulman Village in Cumbria, England.

What does the Bulman map show?

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