NameCensus.

UK surname

Eastman

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived to the east of a settlement or significant landmark.

In the 1881 census there were 817 people recorded with the Eastman surname, ranking it #4,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,170, ranked #5,060, down from #4,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Test Valley and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eastman is 1,231 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.2%.

1881 census count

817

Ranked #4,581

Modern count

1,170

2016, ranked #5,060

Peak year

2010

1,231 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eastman had 817 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,170 in 2016, ranked #5,060.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,107 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Eastman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eastman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eastman 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 513 #4,877
1861 historical 576 #4,576
1881 historical 817 #4,581
1891 historical 887 #4,648
1901 historical 1,016 #4,696
1911 historical 1,107 #4,191
1997 modern 1,160 #4,855
1998 modern 1,162 #5,015
1999 modern 1,185 #4,988
2000 modern 1,171 #5,009
2001 modern 1,145 #5,010
2002 modern 1,168 #5,020
2003 modern 1,157 #4,959
2004 modern 1,176 #4,895
2005 modern 1,132 #5,011
2006 modern 1,115 #5,085
2007 modern 1,110 #5,149
2008 modern 1,143 #5,047
2009 modern 1,185 #4,985
2010 modern 1,231 #4,938
2011 modern 1,208 #4,942
2012 modern 1,188 #4,952
2013 modern 1,210 #4,951
2014 modern 1,210 #4,980
2015 modern 1,195 #4,989
2016 modern 1,170 #5,060

Geography

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Where Eastmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Test Valley, North Devon and Hastings. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Torridge 001 Torridge
3 Test Valley 008 Test Valley
4 North Devon 013 North Devon
5 Hastings 002 Hastings

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eastman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eastman

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Eastman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eastman is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eastman falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Eastman 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 Eastman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Eastman

The surname Eastman is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words 'east' and 'mann,' meaning 'a man from the east.' This name was likely given to someone who lived in an easterly location or originated from an eastern region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Eastman surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Eastman surname was primarily concentrated in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in eastern England. Some variations in spelling included Eastmanne, Estman, and Estmane, reflecting the fluidity of surname conventions at the time.

In the 16th century, records show an Eastman family residing in the town of Rye, Sussex. One notable member was Sir George Eastman, a merchant and Member of Parliament for Rye, who lived from around 1520 to 1587.

Another prominent figure was George Eastman (1854-1932), the American entrepreneur and inventor who founded the Eastman Kodak Company. Although his surname originated in England, he was born in Waterville, New York, and revolutionized the photographic industry.

Other historical figures bearing the Eastman surname include:

1. Charles Eastman (1858-1939), a Native American author and physician known as Ohiyesa. 2. Max Eastman (1883-1969), an American writer and political activist. 3. Crystal Eastman (1881-1928), a lawyer and leader in the women's suffrage movement. 4. Linda Eastman (1941-1998), an American photographer and the first wife of Paul McCartney.

The Eastman surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Eastman, Georgia, and Eastman, Wisconsin, both named after individuals with the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eastman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eastman 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. Hampshire leads with 142 Eastmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.67x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 142 8.67x
Middlesex 125 1.56x
Devon 121 7.28x
Kent 71 2.60x
Surrey 58 1.49x
Gloucestershire 42 2.68x
Glamorgan 37 2.66x
Wiltshire 37 5.24x
Somerset 28 2.18x
Cornwall 22 2.43x
Essex 18 1.14x
Yorkshire 14 0.18x
Lancashire 13 0.14x
Durham 11 0.46x
Monmouthshire 11 1.90x
Berkshire 10 1.67x
Suffolk 10 1.03x
Warwickshire 9 0.45x
Sussex 7 0.52x
Leicestershire 6 0.68x
Cheshire 5 0.28x
Northamptonshire 5 0.67x
Oxfordshire 4 0.81x
Derbyshire 3 0.24x
Lanarkshire 3 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.41x
Royal Navy 2 2.10x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.30x
Dorset 1 0.19x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bideford in Devon leads with 32 Eastmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.67x.

Place Total Index
Bideford 32 179.67x
Islington London 26 3.36x
Millbrook 24 58.20x
Bedminster 23 19.03x
Northam 23 189.77x
Camberwell 22 4.31x
Alverstoke 19 32.06x
Great Bedwin 18 358.57x
Bristol St James St Paul 16 30.62x
St Pancras London 16 2.49x
Maidstone 14 17.24x
Tottenham 14 11.00x
Southampton St Mary 13 12.63x
West Ham 13 3.73x
Atherington 12 845.07x
Bermondsey 12 5.05x
Canterbury St Mildred 12 185.47x
Llantrisant 12 34.23x
Penge 12 23.52x
Southampton All Sts 12 42.70x
Andover 11 71.11x
Combmartin 11 304.71x
Bromley London 10 5.69x
Downton 10 108.11x
Mile End Old Town London 10 5.88x
Portsea 10 3.12x
Bristol St James In 9 39.06x
Holy Rood 9 271.90x
Deal 8 34.41x
Llantwit Lower 8 65.41x
Southampton St Michael 8 148.42x
St Mary Extra 8 60.70x
Swansea Town 8 7.01x
Whitchurch 8 153.85x
Buckland In Dover 7 77.52x
Englefield 7 660.38x
Greenwich 7 5.50x
Gwennap 7 41.03x
Monkleigh 7 472.97x
Plymouth Charles The 7 9.56x
Aston 6 1.08x
Botesdale 6 397.35x
Bristol St Paul In 6 14.37x
Humberstone 6 82.42x
Liverpool 6 1.04x
Sunderland 6 14.30x
Bedwellty 5 4.90x
Birkenhead 5 3.56x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.38x
Huddersfield 5 4.34x
Illogan 5 20.88x
Margam 5 32.24x
Peterborough 5 9.19x
Redruth 5 19.54x
Romsey Infra 5 90.09x
Southcoates 5 11.38x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.30x
Trevethin 5 9.17x
Woodford 5 416.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 2.66x
Davington 4 655.74x
Goring 4 141.84x
Hackney London 4 0.89x
Kensington London 4 0.90x
Long Melford 4 44.25x
Lynsted 4 113.31x
Paddington London 4 1.36x
St Bartholomew Great 4 55.02x
St Sepulchre London 4 34.19x
Stockton On Tees 4 3.49x
Winterbourne 4 46.19x
Barony 3 0.46x
Battersea 3 1.02x
Chelsea London 3 1.25x
Durnford 3 243.90x
Newport 3 33.78x
St Marylebone London 3 0.70x
Tiverton 3 10.47x
Whitechapel London 3 3.81x
Willesden 3 3.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 33
George 32
James 27
Thomas 23
Charles 21
Frederick 14
Henry 12
Walter 12
Edward 11
Frank 9
Albert 8
Alfred 8
Richard 7
Robert 7
Samuel 7
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Joseph 5
Christopher 4
Percy 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Hugh 3
Peter 3
Alexander 2
David 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Horace 2
Jas. 2
Jessie 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Alwick 1
Andrew 1
Aurther 1
Benjamin 1
C.G. 1
Ephraim 1
Eustace 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Jabez 1
Jessy 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Eastman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eastman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 817 people were recorded with the Eastman surname. That placed it at #4,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eastman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,170 in 2016. That gives Eastman a modern rank of #5,060.

What does the Eastman surname mean?

An English toponymic surname referring to someone who lived to the east of a settlement or significant landmark.

What does the Eastman map show?

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