NameCensus.

UK surname

Dudman

A surname derived from an Old English personal name meaning "man from the hill".

In the 1881 census there were 557 people recorded with the Dudman surname, ranking it #6,205 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 847, ranked #6,598, down from #6,205 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lurgasall, Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Horsham and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dudman is 927 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.1%.

1881 census count

557

Ranked #6,205

Modern count

847

2016, ranked #6,598

Peak year

1999

927 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dudman had 557 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,205 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 847 in 2016, ranked #6,598.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 786 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Dudman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Dudman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dudman 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 401 #6,031
1861 historical 369 #6,919
1881 historical 557 #6,205
1891 historical 626 #6,177
1901 historical 709 #6,223
1911 historical 786 #5,542
1997 modern 865 #6,154
1998 modern 900 #6,159
1999 modern 927 #6,065
2000 modern 923 #6,066
2001 modern 907 #6,051
2002 modern 910 #6,149
2003 modern 892 #6,134
2004 modern 882 #6,197
2005 modern 840 #6,356
2006 modern 812 #6,534
2007 modern 818 #6,572
2008 modern 823 #6,584
2009 modern 840 #6,625
2010 modern 850 #6,693
2011 modern 840 #6,679
2012 modern 813 #6,749
2013 modern 847 #6,659
2014 modern 852 #6,645
2015 modern 843 #6,662
2016 modern 847 #6,598

Geography

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Where Dudmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lurgasall, Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep, London parishes, Lambeth and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Horsham and Bradford. 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 Lurgasall Sussex
2 Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 004 Chichester
2 Horsham 013 Horsham
3 Chichester 001 Chichester
4 Chichester 005 Chichester
5 Bradford 004 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dudman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dudman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Dudman 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

Dudman is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Dudman

The surname Dudman is of English origin, believed to have emerged in the late medieval period. It is thought to have originated in the county of Kent, where it is believed to be a locational name derived from a now-lost place name containing the Old English elements "dud," meaning "dull" or "stupid," and "mann," meaning "man." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a place associated with a person considered to be dull or unintelligent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Kent in 1334, where it appears as "John Dudman." The name also appears in various other historical records from Kent, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524-1525, which list a "Robertus Dudman" from the parish of Boughton Monchelsea.

While the Dudman surname does not appear in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, it is possible that it may have derived from a place name that existed at the time but was not recorded in that particular survey.

One notable bearer of the Dudman name was John Dudman (c. 1505-1556), who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton in Somerset from 1554 until his death. Another early Dudman of note was William Dudman (c. 1560-1630), a prominent landowner and farmer in the parish of Frittenden, Kent.

In the 17th century, the Dudman surname appears to have spread beyond Kent, with records showing individuals bearing the name in other parts of England. For example, a George Dudman (1632-1697) was a respected merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol.

Other notable Dudmans throughout history include John Dudman (1708-1778), a successful brewer and entrepreneur in the town of Lewes, East Sussex, and Thomas Dudman (1790-1868), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

The Dudman surname has undergone various spellings over the centuries, including Dudeman, Duddeman, and Duddman, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic variations of different parts of England where the name was found.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dudman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dudman 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 132 Dudmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

County Total Index
Surrey 132 4.99x
Sussex 130 14.22x
Hampshire 92 8.28x
Middlesex 89 1.64x
Wiltshire 46 9.59x
Essex 16 1.49x
Kent 16 0.86x
Gloucestershire 15 1.41x
Oxfordshire 7 2.09x
Somerset 4 0.46x
Devon 2 0.18x
Warwickshire 2 0.15x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Durham 1 0.06x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 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. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 46 Dudmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.28x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 46 13.28x
Lurgashall 24 1764.71x
Fernhurst 20 990.10x
Brighton 17 9.22x
Hornsey 17 24.79x
Lodsworth 17 1338.58x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 13.74x
Basingstoke 14 109.46x
Battersea 14 7.02x
Chisledon 13 596.33x
Islington London 13 2.47x
Lambeth 13 2.75x
Newington 13 6.49x
Walthamstow 13 33.74x
Farringdon 11 1009.17x
Ludgershall 10 1086.96x
Tangley 9 2195.12x
Westbourne 9 197.80x
Chessington 8 1777.78x
Paddington London 8 4.01x
Rottingdean 8 256.41x
Upper Clatford 8 583.94x
Pulborough 7 208.33x
Caversham 6 89.55x
Gillingham 6 15.73x
Hampstead London 6 7.10x
North Ambersham 6 1935.48x
Otterbourne 6 377.36x
Penton Mewsey 6 1132.08x
St Stephen Coleman Street 6 315.79x
Wilcott 6 571.43x
Amberley 5 367.65x
Andover 5 47.62x
Ealing 5 10.32x
Farnborough 5 42.81x
Kingston On Thames 5 7.88x
Plumstead 5 8.11x
Shoreditch London 5 2.13x
Stratton St Margaret 5 67.93x
Acton 4 12.58x
Bermondsey 4 2.48x
Bow London 4 5.79x
Clifton 4 7.44x
Croydon 4 2.73x
Hammersmith London 4 2.99x
Hordle 4 207.25x
Westminster St Margaret 4 15.29x
Broadwater 3 14.31x
Byfleet 3 127.66x
Chippenham 3 29.82x
Gloucester St Mary Crypt 3 184.05x
Hastings St Leonards 3 22.32x
Northwood 3 18.95x
Pitney 3 500.00x
Preshute 3 101.69x
South Hamlet 3 45.59x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.14x
St Marylebone London 3 1.04x
West Chiltington 3 252.10x
Dover St James 2 24.66x
Eastbourne 2 4.75x
Egham 2 12.33x
Finchley 2 9.62x
Gloucester St John Baptist 2 29.11x
Hursley 2 77.52x
North Chapel 2 136.05x
Romsey Extra 2 30.26x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.86x
Stoke 2 16.04x
West Ham 2 0.85x
Basing 1 48.08x
Chute Forest 1 333.33x
Folkestone 1 2.79x
Hambledon 1 26.67x
Hurstpierpoint 1 19.65x
Littleham 1 12.12x
Romsey Infra 1 26.53x
St Mary Bourne 1 49.51x
Woking 1 6.28x
Wonston 1 77.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 19
Louisa 13
Alice 12
Ann 12
Eliza 11
Ellen 9
Emma 9
Annie 8
Emily 7
Harriet 7
Caroline 6
Charlotte 6
Kate 6
Clara 5
Jane 5
Laura 5
Amy 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Ethel 2
Hannah 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Angelina 1
Beatrice 1
Edeith 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ella 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Eveline 1
Hanah 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Jean 1
Jemima 1
Jennie 1
Jessy 1
Kezia 1
Walhainer 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 26
Henry 25
George 22
Charles 18
James 17
Thomas 17
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
David 7
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Frank 6
Harry 6
Albert 5
Richard 5
Ernest 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Daniel 3
Eli 3
Abraham 2
Amos 2
Chas. 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Jonathon 2
Joseph 2
Caleb 1
Claude 1
Cyrenius 1
Fras. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.G. 1
Henery 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Leonard 1
Nicholas 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Dudman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dudman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 557 people were recorded with the Dudman surname. That placed it at #6,205 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dudman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 847 in 2016. That gives Dudman a modern rank of #6,598.

What does the Dudman surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English personal name meaning "man from the hill".

What does the Dudman map show?

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