NameCensus.

UK surname

Dearman

An English surname derived from the Old English words "deore," meaning beloved, and "mann," meaning man or person.

In the 1881 census there were 441 people recorded with the Dearman surname, ranking it #7,422 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 680, ranked #7,884, down from #7,422 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire and Ross and Cromarty East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dearman is 759 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.

1881 census count

441

Ranked #7,422

Modern count

680

2016, ranked #7,884

Peak year

1999

759 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dearman had 441 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,422 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016, ranked #7,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 554 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Dearman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dearman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dearman 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 328 #7,098
1861 historical 356 #7,171
1881 historical 441 #7,422
1891 historical 467 #7,846
1901 historical 536 #7,663
1911 historical 554 #7,244
1997 modern 725 #7,045
1998 modern 751 #7,093
1999 modern 759 #7,078
2000 modern 712 #7,401
2001 modern 711 #7,275
2002 modern 713 #7,404
2003 modern 673 #7,628
2004 modern 664 #7,716
2005 modern 656 #7,716
2006 modern 649 #7,807
2007 modern 649 #7,873
2008 modern 653 #7,890
2009 modern 686 #7,759
2010 modern 703 #7,753
2011 modern 688 #7,791
2012 modern 676 #7,825
2013 modern 699 #7,734
2014 modern 694 #7,826
2015 modern 694 #7,769
2016 modern 680 #7,884

Geography

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Where Dearmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton and Enfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, Ross and Cromarty East, Enfield and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Baldock, Willian, Weston, Clothall, Bygrave, Norton Hertfordshire
5 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hertfordshire 003 East Hertfordshire
2 North Hertfordshire 002 North Hertfordshire
3 Ross and Cromarty East Highland
4 Enfield 006 Enfield
5 Central Bedfordshire 023 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dearman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dearman

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Dearman 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

Dearman is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dearman

The surname Dearman is of English origin, deriving from the medieval given name "Dereman." This name was a combination of the Old English elements "deor," meaning "beloved" or "precious," and "man," meaning "person." It is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset in the south-west of England during the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1198, where a person named Radulfus Derman is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during this period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

The Dearman name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Derman is listed. These historical records provide valuable insights into the early distribution and prevalence of the surname in different regions of England.

In the 16th century, the name is found in the parish records of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, where a Thomas Dearman was recorded in 1543. This spelling variation, closer to the modern form, suggests the gradual standardization of the name over time.

One notable bearer of the Dearman surname was John Dearman, a prominent Puritan minister born in 1564 in Brinsworth, Yorkshire. He served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham and was known for his staunch religious beliefs and writings.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Dearman, a successful merchant and alderman in the city of Hull during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He played a crucial role in the economic and civic affairs of the town, serving as its mayor in 1619.

In the literary realm, John Dearman (1731-1809) was an English poet and playwright from Northamptonshire. He is best known for his pastoral poem "The Coquet," which was widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

The Dearman family also had a presence in the military, with Captain William Dearman (1812-1879) serving in the British Army during the Crimean War. He was awarded the Crimea Medal for his valiant service in the conflict.

Lastly, Sir John Dearman (1875-1948) was a prominent British businessman and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the steel industry in the early 20th century. He was knighted for his contributions to the nation's economy and industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dearman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dearman 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 154 Dearmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 154 3.58x
Hertfordshire 104 35.07x
Yorkshire 58 1.36x
Surrey 36 1.72x
Kent 20 1.36x
Nottinghamshire 20 3.45x
Lancashire 15 0.29x
Lincolnshire 8 1.16x
Norfolk 7 1.06x
Hampshire 5 0.57x
Sussex 5 0.69x
Bedfordshire 2 0.90x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.73x
Northamptonshire 2 0.49x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Essex 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. Enfield in Middlesex leads with 20 Dearmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.87x.

Place Total Index
Enfield 20 70.87x
Camberwell 18 6.55x
Willian 17 3863.64x
Sheffield 16 11.79x
Bethnal Green London 14 7.49x
Nether Hallam 13 22.54x
St Pancras London 13 3.75x
Edmonton 12 34.62x
Paddington London 12 7.59x
Rushden 12 3000.00x
Hythe St Leonard 10 192.68x
Hemel Hempstead 9 67.37x
Nottingham St Peter 9 139.32x
Chelsea London 8 6.17x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 9.87x
Colsterworth 8 551.72x
Heston 8 55.98x
Kensington London 8 3.35x
Sculcoates 8 11.84x
Shoreditch London 8 4.29x
Walkern 8 640.00x
Wallington 8 2857.14x
Watton 8 661.16x
Bunwell 7 551.18x
Hackney London 7 2.90x
Brickendon 6 434.78x
Cheam 6 267.86x
St Bartholomew Great 6 153.45x
St George In East London 6 14.83x
Ardeley 5 684.93x
Islington London 5 1.20x
Lewisham 5 6.39x
Nottingham St Mary 5 3.33x
Weston 5 349.65x
Baldock 4 143.37x
Bennington 4 470.59x
Clapham 4 7.44x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 14.58x
Holy Trinity 4 3.90x
Hook 4 42.64x
Mansfield 4 19.94x
Rotherhithe 4 7.53x
Salford 4 2.66x
St Albans St Peter 4 40.00x
Stevenage 4 86.96x
Tottenham 4 5.84x
Westminster St John 4 7.64x
Alverstoke 3 9.40x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.65x
Fulham London 3 4.81x
Ardingly 2 86.58x
Bayford 2 500.00x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 2.31x
Feltham 2 46.51x
Fishlake 2 246.91x
Hammersmith London 2 1.89x
Hatfield 2 33.28x
Hornsey 2 3.68x
Hove 2 6.29x
Luton 2 5.19x
Melbourn 2 75.47x
Peterborough 2 6.83x
Portsea 2 1.16x
Spotland 2 3.52x
Ware 2 23.53x
Westminster St Margaret 2 9.64x
Barking 1 4.02x
Basford 1 3.74x
Brighton 1 0.68x
Frittenden 1 72.99x
Golcar 1 8.87x
Hertford St John 1 22.62x
Isleworth 1 5.23x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.09x
Newington 1 0.63x
Putney 1 5.10x
Sale 1 8.58x
South Mimms 1 16.95x
St Luke London 1 1.45x
Woolwich 1 1.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 21
Mary 20
Sarah 18
Emma 14
Ann 10
Alice 8
Annie 8
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Martha 7
Emily 6
Harriet 6
Clara 5
Louisa 5
Agnes 4
Florence 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Catherine 2
Elizebeth 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Bertha 1
Deborah 1
Eliz.A. 1
Elizebth 1
Esther 1
Fillah 1
Flora 1
Harrt. 1
Helena 1
Isabell 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Margaret 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
James 22
George 15
Charles 14
John 14
Joseph 11
Henry 10
Thomas 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
Walter 6
David 5
Edward 5
Richard 4
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Noah 3
Samuel 3
Wilfred 3
Albert 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Ambrose 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Sam 1
Stephen 1
Wm.L. 1

FAQ

Dearman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dearman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 441 people were recorded with the Dearman surname. That placed it at #7,422 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dearman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 680 in 2016. That gives Dearman a modern rank of #7,884.

What does the Dearman surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English words "deore," meaning beloved, and "mann," meaning man or person.

What does the Dearman map show?

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