NameCensus.

UK surname

Churchman

An occupational surname referring to an officer or clergyman of a church.

In the 1881 census there were 761 people recorded with the Churchman surname, ranking it #4,855 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 922, ranked #6,187, down from #4,855 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Castle Acre and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Churchman is 1,108 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.2%.

1881 census count

761

Ranked #4,855

Modern count

922

2016, ranked #6,187

Peak year

1911

1,108 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Churchman had 761 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,855 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 922 in 2016, ranked #6,187.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,108 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Churchman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Churchman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Churchman 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 518 #4,834
1861 historical 569 #4,629
1881 historical 761 #4,855
1891 historical 859 #4,770
1901 historical 1,002 #4,752
1911 historical 1,108 #4,185
1997 modern 939 #5,771
1998 modern 987 #5,733
1999 modern 973 #5,825
2000 modern 999 #5,693
2001 modern 960 #5,775
2002 modern 970 #5,824
2003 modern 939 #5,886
2004 modern 957 #5,813
2005 modern 910 #5,973
2006 modern 912 #5,972
2007 modern 892 #6,127
2008 modern 907 #6,099
2009 modern 935 #6,065
2010 modern 967 #6,038
2011 modern 940 #6,113
2012 modern 936 #6,055
2013 modern 927 #6,208
2014 modern 928 #6,240
2015 modern 926 #6,195
2016 modern 922 #6,187

Geography

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Where Churchmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Castle Acre, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Harston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Colchester, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal, Dudley and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Castle Acre Norfolk
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Harston Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Colchester 001 Colchester
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
4 Dudley 023 Dudley
5 Cornwall 054 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Churchman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Churchman

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Churchman is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Churchman 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

Churchman 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 Churchman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Churchman

The surname Churchman has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English words "cirice" (church) and "mann" (man), referring to a person who was employed or associated with a church, such as a sexton, verger, or other church official.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it is spelled "Chirceman". This suggests that the surname had already been established by the 12th century in northern England.

During the 13th century, variations of the name, such as "Chircheman" and "Chirchemannus", can be found in various records, including the Curia Regis Rolls of Wiltshire from 1207 and the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1247.

One notable bearer of the name was John Churchman (c. 1305-1384), a prominent English clergyman and ecclesiastical administrator who served as Bishop of Carlisle from 1347 until his death. He played a significant role in the construction of Carlisle Cathedral's choir and the establishment of its library.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various historical documents, such as the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from a wealthy Norfolk family. One letter, dated 1472, mentions a "John Churchman" who was involved in a legal dispute.

Another notable figure was Christopher Churchman (c. 1520-1570), a Protestant reformer and Church of England clergyman. He served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1568 until his death.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname continued to be found across various regions of England, with some bearers migrating to the American colonies. One such individual was John Churchman (1751-1805), a prominent American Quaker and abolitionist born in Maryland.

Other notable bearers of the Churchman surname include Thomas Churchman (1703-1775), an English philosopher and writer; Edward Churchman (1833-1887), an English architect and surveyor; and Philander Chase Churchman (1825-1894), an American lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Churchman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Churchman 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. Middlesex leads with 156 Churchmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 156 2.10x
Cambridgeshire 123 26.09x
Norfolk 67 5.85x
Surrey 55 1.52x
Yorkshire 40 0.54x
Sussex 35 2.79x
Lancashire 33 0.37x
Suffolk 32 3.53x
Staffordshire 27 1.07x
Essex 25 1.70x
Bedfordshire 19 4.93x
Hampshire 19 1.25x
Kent 18 0.71x
Northamptonshire 16 2.29x
Berkshire 15 2.68x
Durham 15 0.68x
Devon 12 0.77x
Derbyshire 9 0.77x
Shropshire 8 1.24x
Herefordshire 7 2.29x
Worcestershire 7 0.72x
Lincolnshire 6 0.50x
Gloucestershire 5 0.34x
Glamorgan 3 0.23x
Monmouthshire 3 0.56x
Warwickshire 2 0.11x
Dorset 1 0.20x
Leicestershire 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.13x
Wiltshire 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. Sawston in Cambridgeshire leads with 49 Churchmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1076.92x.

Place Total Index
Sawston 49 1076.92x
Kensington London 24 5.80x
Harston 23 1150.00x
Bromley London 22 13.44x
Shoreditch London 18 5.58x
Castle Acre 17 500.00x
Camberwell 16 3.37x
Islington London 15 2.08x
Middlesbrough 14 14.58x
Northampton St Sepulchre 14 39.31x
West Ham 14 4.32x
Hammersmith London 12 6.55x
Rudgwick 12 419.58x
Deptford St Paul 11 5.62x
Lambeth 11 1.70x
Hornsey 10 10.62x
Horsham 10 41.02x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 3.75x
Egglescliffe 9 538.92x
Swaffham 9 96.67x
Croydon 8 3.97x
Great Fransham 8 952.38x
Holme Hale 8 761.90x
Newton 8 11.75x
St Andrew Holborn London 8 24.83x
St Andrewthe Less 8 14.85x
Stapleford 8 559.44x
Stone 8 24.90x
Trimley St Martin 8 512.82x
Winshill 8 107.67x
Conisbrough 7 101.16x
Hereford St Peter 7 85.89x
Kingswinford 7 7.67x
Preston 7 2.96x
Reading St Mary 7 15.64x
St Pancras London 7 1.17x
Willesden 7 9.98x
Aldershot 6 11.74x
Carlton 6 495.87x
Hackney London 6 1.44x
Ipswich St Clement 6 26.04x
Little Shelford 6 458.02x
Market Deeping 6 194.17x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.58x
Staveley 6 576.92x
Warnham 6 221.40x
Whitchurch 6 123.97x
Barking 5 11.63x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.55x
Great Shelford 5 201.61x
Newington 5 1.82x
Parson Drove 5 264.55x
Thetford St Peter 5 166.11x
Turvey 5 204.92x
Bedford St Peter 4 39.96x
Bermondsey 4 1.81x
Broseley 4 35.00x
Clapham 4 4.30x
Glaisdale 4 142.35x
Heigham 4 6.51x
Ipswich St Mathew 4 15.74x
Mile End 4 148.70x
Portsea 4 1.34x
Ravensden 4 330.58x
Scarning 4 235.29x
Southowram 4 17.77x
St Giles Cambridge 4 65.68x
Swaffham Prior 4 193.24x
Walton 4 123.08x
Welland 4 179.37x
Wokingham 4 31.37x
Bedwellty 3 3.16x
Bourn 3 144.93x
Cardiff St John 3 7.09x
Exeter Heavitree 3 25.97x
Friern Barnet 3 18.30x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 9.75x
Thetford St Cuthbert 3 72.46x
Tilehurst 3 26.57x
Upper Holker 3 144.23x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
William 41
Henry 29
George 24
Charles 20
James 19
Alfred 16
Edward 13
Thomas 12
Arthur 11
Harry 9
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Walter 5
David 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Chas. 3
Isaac 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Legh 2
Richard 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Wm.J. 2
Alexander 1
Alimon 1
Amos 1
C. 1
Chr. 1
Christian 1
Ed. 1
F. 1
Fredc. 1
Hubert 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Joshua 1
Kezia 1
L. 1
Lance 1
Zacariah 1

FAQ

Churchman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Churchman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 761 people were recorded with the Churchman surname. That placed it at #4,855 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Churchman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 922 in 2016. That gives Churchman a modern rank of #6,187.

What does the Churchman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to an officer or clergyman of a church.

What does the Churchman map show?

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