NameCensus.

UK surname

Colman

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic byname "Colmán," meaning "little dove" or "descendant of Colmán."

In the 1881 census there were 2,788 people recorded with the Colman surname, ranking it #1,599 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,804, ranked #2,409, down from #1,599 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, East Riding of Yorkshire and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Colman is 3,056 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.6%.

1881 census count

2,788

Ranked #1,599

Modern count

2,804

2016, ranked #2,409

Peak year

1891

3,056 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Colman had 2,788 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,599 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,804 in 2016, ranked #2,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,056 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Colman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Colman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Colman 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 1,806 #1,595
1861 historical 1,977 #1,474
1881 historical 2,788 #1,599
1891 historical 3,056 #1,538
1901 historical 2,952 #1,897
1911 historical 2,797 #1,862
1997 modern 2,859 #2,258
1998 modern 2,939 #2,291
1999 modern 2,967 #2,288
2000 modern 2,962 #2,279
2001 modern 2,887 #2,285
2002 modern 2,947 #2,285
2003 modern 2,809 #2,339
2004 modern 2,770 #2,370
2005 modern 2,713 #2,380
2006 modern 2,711 #2,384
2007 modern 2,735 #2,391
2008 modern 2,777 #2,380
2009 modern 2,791 #2,415
2010 modern 2,872 #2,398
2011 modern 2,832 #2,400
2012 modern 2,790 #2,390
2013 modern 2,860 #2,378
2014 modern 2,874 #2,381
2015 modern 2,820 #2,400
2016 modern 2,804 #2,409

Geography

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Where Colmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Lambeth and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, East Riding of Yorkshire, Breckland 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 Gateshead Durham
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 003 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Breckland 002 Breckland
4 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
5 Breckland 001 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Colman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Colman

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

Colman is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Colman

The surname Colman is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'colman', which means 'coal-man' or 'charcoal burner'. This occupational surname was initially given to individuals who worked in the coal or charcoal industry.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Colman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a person named Richard Colman is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals bearing this surname, such as William Colman in Oxfordshire and Robert Colman in Cambridgeshire.

In the 14th century, the name Colman appeared in various forms, including Colemanne, Colman, and Colemon. This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Colman from Cambridgeshire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 mention a William Colman from Yorkshire.

The surname Colman has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Walter Colman (c. 1290-1340), a prominent English judge and Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Edward III. Another historical figure was George Colman the Elder (1732-1794), an English dramatist and writer best known for his comedies and sentimental plays.

In the 19th century, Jeremiah James Colman (1830-1898) founded the famous Colman's Mustard company in Norfolk, England. His son, Sir Jeremiah Colman (1859-1942), continued to expand the family business and was also a respected philanthropist and art collector.

Additionally, Benjamin Colman (1673-1747) was an influential American minister and educator who helped establish the Collegiate School, which later became Yale University. Samuel Colman (1832-1920) was an American painter known for his landscape paintings, particularly those depicting the American West.

Throughout its history, the surname Colman has been associated with various locations, including Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire, and Norfolk in England, as well as areas in the United States. While the spelling has evolved over time, the name retains its connection to the coal or charcoal industry, reflecting the occupational origins of this English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Colman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Colman 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. Norfolk leads with 491 Colmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.74x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 491 11.74x
Middlesex 295 1.08x
Lancashire 256 0.79x
Durham 157 1.94x
Surrey 137 1.03x
Yorkshire 124 0.46x
Sussex 102 2.22x
Cornwall 98 3.18x
Somerset 87 1.99x
Gloucestershire 84 1.57x
Devon 70 1.24x
Kent 65 0.70x
Suffolk 60 1.81x
Essex 48 0.89x
Wiltshire 48 1.99x
Derbyshire 40 0.94x
Glamorgan 38 0.80x
Lanarkshire 37 0.42x
Staffordshire 36 0.39x
Ayrshire 34 1.67x
Cumberland 33 1.41x
Northumberland 29 0.72x
Angus 25 0.99x
Hampshire 25 0.45x
Midlothian 25 0.69x
Buckinghamshire 23 1.40x
Northamptonshire 23 0.90x
Lincolnshire 20 0.46x
Fife 17 1.06x
Kincardineshire 17 5.13x
Warwickshire 17 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 16 0.93x
Cheshire 16 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 16 2.19x
Bedfordshire 15 1.06x
Perthshire 15 1.23x
Leicestershire 14 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.38x
Worcestershire 13 0.37x
Oxfordshire 12 0.71x
Caernarfonshire 10 0.91x
Westmorland 10 1.67x
Dorset 9 0.50x
Hertfordshire 9 0.48x
Renfrewshire 9 0.43x
Channel Islands 8 0.99x
Morayshire 8 1.89x
Wigtownshire 5 1.38x
Monmouthshire 4 0.20x
Cardiganshire 3 0.45x
Stirlingshire 3 0.30x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.08x
Herefordshire 2 0.18x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.37x
Royal Navy 2 0.62x
Shropshire 2 0.09x
Anglesey 1 0.21x
Berkshire 1 0.05x
Buteshire 1 0.61x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.09x
Denbighshire 1 0.10x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.17x
Flintshire 1 0.14x
Merionethshire 1 0.20x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 44 Colmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 44 1.67x
Lambeth 39 1.64x
Hanworth 32 1553.40x
St Breward 32 472.67x
Briningham 31 1280.99x
Lowestoft 30 19.16x
St Pancras London 28 1.28x
West Ham 28 2.36x
Great Yarmouth 27 7.79x
Liverpool 27 1.38x
Barony 26 1.17x
Lancaster 25 13.01x
Crosscanonby 22 28.40x
Dundee 22 2.34x
Brighton 21 2.27x
Kettlestone 20 1169.59x
Manchester 20 1.38x
Clapham 19 5.59x
Everton 19 1.85x
Blackburn 18 2.10x
Leeds 18 1.18x
Bethnal Green London 17 1.44x
Bishopwearmouth 17 2.45x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 17 3.38x
Norwich St Clement 17 35.06x
Westoe 17 3.70x
Chorlton On Medlock 16 3.12x
Kea 16 69.69x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 16 12.74x
Sithney 16 51.41x
Clifton 15 5.56x
Kensington London 15 0.99x
Thurgarton 15 688.07x
Bermondsey 14 1.73x
Chelsea London 14 1.71x
Gateshead 14 2.31x
West Rudham 14 317.46x
Westminster St James 14 5.01x
Linthorpe 13 8.08x
Ouston 13 110.08x
Paddington London 13 1.30x
Preston 13 1.51x
Shoreditch London 13 1.10x
Holy Trinity 12 1.85x
Kingston On Thames 12 3.77x
Peterborough 12 6.48x
Tunstead 12 306.12x
Wymondham 12 28.06x
Bedminster 11 2.67x
Chester Le Street 11 17.70x
Crich 11 39.57x
Edington 11 126.58x
Forncett St Peter 11 191.30x
Hammersmith London 11 1.64x
Heigham 11 4.90x
Pitminster 11 85.47x
Rotherhithe 11 3.27x
Spittlegate 11 18.28x
Akeley 10 277.78x
Allington In Almesbury 10 1282.05x
Bristol St Augustine 10 11.61x
Dwygyfylchi 10 49.19x
Eston 10 17.03x
Fakenham Alethorpe 10 193.80x
Hampstead London 10 2.36x
Lakenham 10 16.83x
North Petherton 10 28.31x
West Derby 10 1.06x
Chesterfield 9 5.64x
Dundonald 9 11.99x
Dunfermline 9 3.63x
Fakenham 9 43.69x
Ingham 9 210.77x
Kendal 9 8.22x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 1.98x
Modbury 9 62.24x
Ormesby St Margaret W 9 85.80x
Salford 9 0.95x
Sedlescombe 9 149.25x
Wednesfield 9 6.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 185
Elizabeth 84
Sarah 72
Ann 49
Ellen 43
Jane 39
Alice 37
Eliza 36
Margaret 35
Annie 34
Emily 29
Emma 29
Harriet 24
Maria 24
Charlotte 22
Edith 22
Louisa 21
Hannah 20
Caroline 18
Catherine 17
Clara 16
Martha 16
Anna 15
Kate 15
Frances 14
Fanny 13
Ada 11
Susan 11
Florence 10
Bridget 9
Harriett 9
Isabella 9
Lucy 9
Eleanor 8
Susannah 8
Agnes 7
Anne 7
Matilda 7
Helen 6
Julia 6
Laura 6
Minnie 5
Rose 5
Rosina 5
Sophia 5
Susanna 5
Amy 4
Bessie 4
Betsy 4
Mabel 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 154
William 122
James 99
Thomas 95
George 75
Charles 47
Henry 42
Robert 40
Edward 34
Frederick 33
Arthur 28
Richard 28
Joseph 25
Alfred 24
Samuel 16
Patrick 14
Walter 14
Albert 13
David 12
Ernest 12
Harry 11
Herbert 11
Edwin 9
Michael 9
Stephen 9
Frank 8
Peter 8
Wm. 8
Daniel 7
Horace 7
Jeremiah 6
Sidney 6
Thos. 6
Clement 5
Edmund 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Fredrick 4
Jno. 4
Mark 4
Philip 4
Sydney 4
Timothy 4
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Charley 3
Chas. 3
Isaac 3
Matthew 3
Percy 3

FAQ

Colman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Colman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,788 people were recorded with the Colman surname. That placed it at #1,599 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Colman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,804 in 2016. That gives Colman a modern rank of #2,409.

What does the Colman surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic byname "Colmán," meaning "little dove" or "descendant of Colmán."

What does the Colman map show?

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