UK surname
A surname derived from the given name Christian, indicating the original bearer's faith or born on Christmas day.
In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Christman surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #29,646 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Catherington, Waterloo and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Christman is 144 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.1%.
1881 census count
28
Ranked #29,646
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1891
144 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Christman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Christman surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 52 | #27,369 |
| 1881 | historical | 28 | #29,646 |
| 1891 | historical | 144 | #18,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 48 | #33,233 |
| 2000 | modern | 36 | #34,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 32 | #34,537 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 37 | #34,432 |
| 2004 | modern | 37 | #34,640 |
| 2005 | modern | 40 | #34,562 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 37 | #35,327 |
| 2009 | modern | 40 | #35,274 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 34 | #35,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Catherington, Waterloo, Dudley, Hornsey St Mary and Woking. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Catherington, Waterloo | Hampshire |
| 3 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Hornsey St Mary | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 5 | Woking | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Christman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Christman, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Christman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Christman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Christman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Christman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Christman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Christman has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages. Derived from the German words "Christ" and "mann," which translate to "Christ" and "man," respectively, the name likely referred to a devout follower of Christianity or someone who was deeply religious.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Christman surname can be found in the 15th century Wunderlich Codex, a manuscript containing various legal documents from the region of Franconia in modern-day Germany. The codex mentions a certain Hans Christman, who was a landowner and farmer in the village of Rödental.
In the 16th century, the Christman name appeared in several church records from the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, indicating a presence of the family in that area. One notable individual from this period was Johann Christman, a Protestant reformer and theologian who lived from 1505 to 1567.
As the Christman family spread across German-speaking regions, variations in spelling began to appear, such as Christmann, Christtmann, and Kristmann. These different spellings were often influenced by local dialects and scribal practices.
In the 18th century, a branch of the Christman family migrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded Christmans in America was Johannes Christman, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1749 from the Palatinate region of Germany.
Another notable figure with the Christman surname was Friedrich Christmann, a German theologian and Orientalist who lived from 1618 to 1679. He was instrumental in introducing the study of Arabic and Persian languages to German universities.
In the 19th century, the Christman name gained prominence in the United States, with several individuals making significant contributions. James Christman, born in 1808 in Pennsylvania, was a prominent businessman and philanthropist who founded the Christman Knitting Machine Company.
Furthermore, John Christman, born in 1842 in Ohio, was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War and later became a successful farmer and community leader in his home state.
While the Christman surname has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark across different fields and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Christman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 12 Christmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.40x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 12 | 4.40x |
| Worcestershire | 11 | 30.87x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.07x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.31x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.75x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.17x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 11 Christmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 254.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 11 | 254.04x |
| St George Hanover Square | 6 | 124.74x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 46.58x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 12.32x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 4.36x |
| Headcorn | 1 | 714.29x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 5.09x |
| Petworth | 1 | 370.37x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 8.45x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 6.86x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 37.17x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Christman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Christman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Christman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Musician | 2 |
| Painter And Glazier | 2 |
| Billard Master | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| Pewter? Stamper (Artz) | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Christman surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Christman a modern rank of #35,582.
A surname derived from the given name Christian, indicating the original bearer's faith or born on Christmas day.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Christman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.