UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a hill-dweller or someone from a place called Dunham.
In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Dunman surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #17,335 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Upton Noble, Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunman is 154 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.4%.
1881 census count
125
Ranked #17,335
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1861
154 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Dunman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Dunman surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 154 | #14,963 |
| 1881 | historical | 125 | #17,335 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 77 | #25,106 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 33 | #34,436 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 33 | #34,773 |
| 2004 | modern | 36 | #34,717 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 39 | #34,932 |
| 2007 | modern | 37 | #35,215 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 40 | #35,395 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Upton Noble, Poole St James, London parishes, Battersea and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upton Noble | Somerset |
| 2 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Battersea | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Dunman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dunman, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Dunman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Dunman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Dunman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dunman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Dunman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname DUNMAN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "dun" meaning hill or down, and "mann" meaning man or servant. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived on or near a hill, or who worked as a servant on a particular estate or manor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Duneman". This ancient record indicates that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Dunman, Dunmane, Dunmayne, and Dunmain. These variations likely arose due to differences in local dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.
In the 13th century, records show a William Dunman living in Oxfordshire, England. Around the same time, a John Dunman was documented in Yorkshire, suggesting that the name had spread to different parts of the country.
During the 16th century, the name gained some prominence with the birth of Sir John Dunman (1532-1612), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and played a significant role in the development of the city.
Another notable individual bearing the DUNMAN surname was Richard Dunman (1670-1746), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex.
In the 18th century, the name appeared in the form of "Dunmain" in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, where a family with that surname resided.
During the 19th century, the name was associated with Charles Dunman (1821-1895), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Hereford Shire Hall and the Islington Town Hall in London.
Another individual of note was Sir William Dunman (1842-1923), a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the City of London and was knighted for his contributions to the city's development.
While the surname DUNMAN is not among the most common in England, it has left its mark on various regions and historical records, reflecting the rich tapestry of English surnames and their origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Dorset leads with 25 Dunmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 25 | 31.25x |
| Surrey | 22 | 3.70x |
| Gloucestershire | 14 | 5.86x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.15x |
| Essex | 10 | 4.16x |
| Somerset | 9 | 4.59x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.48x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.44x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.50x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 2.00x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 1.54x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.53x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.55x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.93x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Puddletown in Dorset leads with 18 Dunmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3673.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Puddletown | 18 | 3673.47x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 9 | 233.16x |
| Heaton Norris | 7 | 85.05x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 6.59x |
| Leyton Low | 7 | 143.15x |
| Wimbledon | 6 | 89.96x |
| Clerkenwell London | 5 | 17.37x |
| Holdenhurst | 5 | 76.34x |
| Chelsea London | 4 | 10.89x |
| Gillingham | 4 | 46.62x |
| Parkstone | 4 | 430.11x |
| Sculcoates | 4 | 20.89x |
| Battersea | 3 | 6.69x |
| Ham Kingston On Thames | 3 | 1153.85x |
| St Mary Magdalen Lincoln | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Upton Noble | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Weston Super Mare | 3 | 60.48x |
| Charlton Kings | 2 | 121.21x |
| Cheltenham | 2 | 10.84x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 2.95x |
| Leyton | 2 | 48.19x |
| Puddle Hinton | 2 | 1176.47x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 3.07x |
| Streatham | 2 | 22.12x |
| Trull | 2 | 500.00x |
| Woolwich | 2 | 13.01x |
| Bathwick | 1 | 46.08x |
| Chirton | 1 | 24.39x |
| Clifton | 1 | 8.27x |
| Dersingham | 1 | 238.10x |
| Leigh | 1 | 119.05x |
| Melcombe Regis | 1 | 30.12x |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | 6.36x |
| Ockbrook | 1 | 123.46x |
| Rawmarsh | 1 | 23.42x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.02x |
| Trowbridge | 1 | 20.96x |
| Wandsworth | 1 | 8.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dunman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Mary | 6 |
| Esther | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Annie | 4 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Eloze. | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Baby | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Emilie | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Kezia | 1 |
| Lillian | 1 |
| Lizzie | 1 |
| Louie | 1 |
| Lousia | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| M. | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dunman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Dunman households.
FAQ
In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Dunman surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Dunman a modern rank of #35,336.
An English habitational surname derived from a hill-dweller or someone from a place called Dunham.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dunman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.