NameCensus.

UK surname

Deadman

A surname indicating an association with death or the undertaking profession.

In the 1881 census there were 1,176 people recorded with the Deadman surname, ranking it #3,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,138, ranked #5,177, down from #3,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, London parishes and East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Hackney and Gravesham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Deadman is 1,473 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.2%.

1881 census count

1,176

Ranked #3,422

Modern count

1,138

2016, ranked #5,177

Peak year

1911

1,473 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Deadman had 1,176 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,138 in 2016, ranked #5,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,473 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Deadman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Deadman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Deadman 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 877 #3,115
1861 historical 746 #3,658
1881 historical 1,176 #3,422
1891 historical 1,285 #3,366
1901 historical 1,431 #3,552
1911 historical 1,473 #3,271
1997 modern 1,297 #4,405
1998 modern 1,341 #4,432
1999 modern 1,352 #4,435
2000 modern 1,376 #4,356
2001 modern 1,336 #4,379
2002 modern 1,360 #4,398
2003 modern 1,300 #4,484
2004 modern 1,294 #4,502
2005 modern 1,233 #4,653
2006 modern 1,248 #4,616
2007 modern 1,251 #4,652
2008 modern 1,240 #4,721
2009 modern 1,258 #4,757
2010 modern 1,264 #4,830
2011 modern 1,202 #4,969
2012 modern 1,161 #5,045
2013 modern 1,197 #4,990
2014 modern 1,182 #5,089
2015 modern 1,140 #5,199
2016 modern 1,138 #5,177

Geography

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Where Deadmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, London parishes, East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak) and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Hackney, Gravesham, Waverley and Gosport. 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 Northfleet Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak) Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 018 Rochdale
2 Hackney 025 Hackney
3 Gravesham 006 Gravesham
4 Waverley 006 Waverley
5 Gosport 004 Gosport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Deadman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Deadman

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Deadman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Deadman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Deadman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Deadman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Deadman

The surname Deadman has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "dede" and "man," which together translate to "dead man." This grim-sounding name likely originated as a descriptive nickname or occupational name for someone who worked in a profession associated with death, such as a gravedigger or undertaker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deadman can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, which mentions a John Dedeman. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Deadman surname appeared in various historical records across England, including the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1380), where a Thomas Dedeman was listed, and the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire (1428), which documented a Robert Dedeman.

Interestingly, the name Deadman is also connected to certain place names in England. For example, the village of Deadmanstone in Dorset is thought to have derived its name from the presence of individuals bearing the Deadman surname in the area.

Among the notable individuals who carried the Deadman surname throughout history are:

1. John Deadman (c. 1530-1592), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Redenhall in Norfolk.

2. William Deadman (c. 1590-1660), an English Protestant minister and religious writer who published several works during the Puritan period.

3. Richard Deadman (1737-1811), a British naval officer who served as a captain in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

4. Samuel Deadman (1776-1838), an English architect and surveyor who designed several buildings in London during the early 19th century, including the Royal College of Physicians.

5. Henry Deadman (1853-1923), a British politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament for Brighton from 1910 to 1918.

While the Deadman surname may have macabre origins, it has a rich history that spans centuries and encompasses various professions and backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Deadman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Deadman 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. Surrey leads with 275 Deadmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.94x.

County Total Index
Surrey 275 4.94x
Sussex 166 8.63x
Middlesex 142 1.24x
Hampshire 128 5.47x
Berkshire 87 10.16x
Kent 81 2.08x
Essex 73 3.24x
Oxfordshire 40 5.68x
Wiltshire 40 3.96x
Staffordshire 24 0.62x
Hertfordshire 21 2.67x
Warwickshire 18 0.63x
Yorkshire 15 0.13x
Suffolk 13 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 10 1.45x
Devon 9 0.38x
Lancashire 9 0.07x
Ayrshire 6 0.70x
Somerset 5 0.27x
Cheshire 4 0.16x
Northamptonshire 2 0.19x
Durham 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 55 Deadmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.53x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 55 5.53x
Farnham 34 78.63x
Frensham 31 379.44x
Brighton 28 7.21x
Enfield 24 32.05x
Northfleet 23 67.04x
Sutton Courtney 23 649.72x
East Meon 22 360.07x
Dockenfield 18 2195.12x
Ifield 18 224.44x
Walton On Thames 18 70.51x
Clapham 17 11.91x
Islington London 17 1.54x
Paddington London 16 3.81x
Newington 15 3.56x
Plumstead 15 11.56x
Shoreditch London 15 3.03x
Aston 14 1.77x
Chertsey 14 38.96x
Cookham 14 52.41x
Pewsey 14 188.68x
Croydon 13 4.21x
Alverstoke 12 14.17x
Greenwich 12 6.60x
Binsted 11 123.32x
Hastings St Mary In The 11 26.80x
Hove 11 13.03x
Oxford St Thomas 11 33.44x
Pelsall 11 96.07x
South Bersted 11 67.20x
Chelsea London 10 2.91x
Willingdon 10 204.92x
Cheam 9 151.26x
Coleshill 9 737.70x
Corsham 9 61.10x
Ferring 9 989.01x
Hellingly 9 139.75x
Kensington London 9 1.42x
Prittlewell 9 28.83x
Sonning 9 95.14x
St Pancras London 9 0.98x
Stoke 9 34.30x
Brentwood 8 58.22x
Chiddingly 8 230.55x
Furneux Pelham 8 358.74x
Great Wakering 8 158.73x
Great Warley 8 156.86x
Leeds 8 1.25x
Pentlow 8 695.65x
South Hayling 8 192.31x
Westminster St John 8 5.76x
Abingdon St Helen 7 27.94x
Caversham 7 49.65x
Cholsey 7 103.24x
Fordingbridge 7 55.03x
Herriard 7 440.25x
Oxted 7 104.48x
Thurston 7 257.35x
Up Marden 7 538.46x
Wimbledon 7 11.21x
Albury 6 244.90x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.21x
Burton Extra 6 27.16x
Coylton 6 49.51x
Drayton 6 246.91x
Eastbourne 6 6.78x
Froxfield 6 222.22x
Great Hadham 6 118.34x
Hammersmith London 6 2.13x
Havant 6 50.63x
Milton In Gravesend 6 10.28x
Mirfield 6 9.66x
Putney 6 11.53x
Reigate Foreign 6 9.96x
Rodmell 6 659.34x
Southampton St Mary 6 4.08x
Broadwater 5 11.33x
Clifton Hampden 5 367.65x
Epping 5 54.64x
St Marylebone London 5 0.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 73
John 58
George 53
Thomas 44
Charles 33
Henry 31
James 30
Arthur 19
Joseph 19
Alfred 18
Albert 13
Frederick 9
Harry 8
Samuel 8
Walter 8
Francis 6
David 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Louis 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Eliza 3
Mark 3
Peter 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Aron 1
Arther 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Chas.J. 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Elizha 1
Emmanuel 1
Herbt.Earnest 1
Horace 1

FAQ

Deadman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Deadman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,176 people were recorded with the Deadman surname. That placed it at #3,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Deadman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,138 in 2016. That gives Deadman a modern rank of #5,177.

What does the Deadman surname mean?

A surname indicating an association with death or the undertaking profession.

What does the Deadman map show?

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