NameCensus.

UK surname

Coman

Romanian surname derived from "Coman", a variant of the Greek name "Komnenos".

In the 1881 census there were 175 people recorded with the Coman surname, ranking it #13,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 442, ranked #10,943, up from #13,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coltishall, London parishes and St Giles Camberwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Norwich, South Norfolk and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coman is 442 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 152.6%.

1881 census count

175

Ranked #13,982

Modern count

442

2016, ranked #10,943

Peak year

2016

442 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coman had 175 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016, ranked #10,943.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 280 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Coman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coman 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 113 #15,815
1861 historical 212 #11,466
1881 historical 175 #13,982
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 280 #11,982
1997 modern 300 #13,530
1998 modern 298 #13,937
1999 modern 295 #14,108
2000 modern 295 #14,070
2001 modern 281 #14,329
2002 modern 273 #14,892
2003 modern 251 #15,563
2004 modern 247 #15,821
2005 modern 244 #15,900
2006 modern 257 #15,448
2007 modern 277 #14,818
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 283 #15,020
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 307 #14,386
2012 modern 339 #13,271
2013 modern 360 #12,890
2014 modern 382 #12,408
2015 modern 407 #11,760
2016 modern 442 #10,943

Geography

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Where Comans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coltishall, London parishes, St Giles Camberwell, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos 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 Norwich, South Norfolk, Breckland and Herefordshire. 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 Coltishall Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
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 Norwich 004 Norwich
2 South Norfolk 001 South Norfolk
3 Norwich 003 Norwich
4 Breckland 013 Breckland
5 Herefordshire 003 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coman, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Coman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Coman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Coman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Coman is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coman falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Coman

The surname Coman is of Romanian origin, with its roots traceable to the 15th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Romanian word "coman," which means "leader" or "chief." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have held positions of authority or leadership within their communities.

Coman is a relatively uncommon surname, but it has been recorded in various historical documents and records throughout the centuries. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Codex Sturdzanus, a 15th-century manuscript that contains a list of boyars (nobles) from Wallachia, a historical and geographical region of modern-day Romania.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Wallachian Registers, which were official documents kept by the principality of Wallachia. These registers recorded transactions, land ownership, and other important matters related to the nobility and ruling class.

One notable bearer of the Coman surname was Radu Coman, a Romanian nobleman who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a member of the princely council and held significant influence during the reigns of Michael the Brave and Radu Șerban, two important rulers of Wallachia.

Another historical figure with the Coman surname was Gheorghe Coman, a Romanian educator and philosopher who lived in the 19th century (1828-1892). He made significant contributions to the development of the Romanian educational system and was a prominent figure in the cultural and intellectual circles of his time.

In the realm of literature, Vasile Coman (1881-1949) was a notable Romanian writer and poet. His works explored themes of rural life, folklore, and the struggles of the Romanian peasantry. He is considered one of the most influential voices in the Romanian literature of the early 20th century.

Moving into the 20th century, Ion Coman (1911-1963) was a Romanian military officer who played a crucial role in the anti-communist resistance movement during the early years of the communist regime in Romania. He was executed by the communist authorities for his opposition to their rule.

It is worth noting that while the Coman surname is predominantly associated with Romania, it may also be found in other regions with Romanian diaspora populations, such as Moldova, Ukraine, and certain parts of the Balkans, due to historical migrations and settlements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coman 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 117 Comans recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.58x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 117 44.58x
Middlesex 23 1.35x
Surrey 12 1.44x
Kent 6 1.03x
Somerset 5 1.82x
Lancashire 4 0.20x
Hertfordshire 3 2.55x
Northumberland 3 1.18x
Essex 2 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coltishall in Norfolk leads with 28 Comans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Coltishall 28 5000.00x
Wymondham 15 559.70x
St Luke London 11 40.18x
Camberwell 10 9.17x
Norwich St James 10 485.44x
Old Buckenham 7 1044.78x
Paddington London 7 11.15x
Horstead With Stanninghall 6 1818.18x
Norwich St Julian 6 540.54x
Heigham 5 35.49x
Wembdon 5 617.28x
Wicklewood 5 1162.79x
Acle 4 740.74x
Frettenham 4 3076.92x
Fulham London 4 16.16x
Salford 4 6.71x
Chipping Barnet 3 145.63x
Great Yarmouth 3 13.80x
Hainford 3 810.81x
Morley St Botolph 3 1764.71x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 3 400.00x
Barton Turf 2 1000.00x
Cowpen 2 34.19x
Edenbridge 2 175.44x
Maidstone 2 11.53x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 2 125.00x
Roydon In Freebridge Lynn 2 1818.18x
Battersea 1 1.59x
Bedlington 1 11.79x
Colchester St Martin 1 161.29x
East Mersea 1 625.00x
Folkestone 1 8.85x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.01x
Lakenham 1 26.81x
Lammas Cum Little Hautbois 1 769.23x
Norwich St George Tombland 1 217.39x
Norwich St Michael At 1 65.79x
Scottow 1 384.62x
Sevenoaks 1 21.19x
St Pancras London 1 0.73x
Stradsett 1 1250.00x
Swanton Morley 1 250.00x
Syderstone 1 333.33x
Thorpe Next Norwich 1 35.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 12
James 10
John 8
Benjamin 7
Thomas 6
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Sylvester 2
Alwyn 1
Arthur 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Ezekial 1
Ezekiel 1
Frank 1
Fredc.A. 1
Frederic 1
George 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
I.Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Noble 1
Stephen 1
Thos.Wm. 1
Will. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Coman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 175 people were recorded with the Coman surname. That placed it at #13,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 442 in 2016. That gives Coman a modern rank of #10,943.

What does the Coman surname mean?

Romanian surname derived from "Coman", a variant of the Greek name "Komnenos".

What does the Coman map show?

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