NameCensus.

UK surname

Emmans

A phonetic rendering of the name Ammann, meaning "overseer" or "bailiff".

In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Emmans surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 96, ranked #31,684, down from #23,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newbury, Woodhay, East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, West Berkshire and Portsmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emmans is 120 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.1%.

1881 census count

69

Ranked #23,816

Modern count

96

2016, ranked #31,684

Peak year

1911

120 bearers

Map years

1

1911 to 1911

Key insights

  • Emmans had 69 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016, ranked #31,684.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 120 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Emmans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Emmans surname density by area, 1911 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Emmans 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 55 #27,007
1881 historical 69 #23,816
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 83 #31,483
2009 modern 88 #31,352
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 94 #31,872
2016 modern 96 #31,684

Geography

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Where Emmans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newbury, Woodhay, East, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Chieveley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, West Berkshire, Portsmouth 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 Newbury Berkshire
2 Woodhay, East Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Chieveley Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 010 Winchester
2 West Berkshire 004 West Berkshire
3 Portsmouth 008 Portsmouth
4 Hastings 008 Hastings
5 Winchester 012 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Emmans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Emmans

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Emmans, 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 Emmans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Emmans 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, Emmans 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

Emmans 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

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

Meaning and origin of Emmans

The surname Emmans is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the 16th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "aman," meaning "priest" or "minister," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have been religious figures or individuals associated with the clergy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Emmans surname can be found in the parish records of Oxfordshire, where a certain John Emmans was mentioned in 1586. This indicates that the name was already established in this region during the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Emmans surname appeared in various historical documents, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, which listed households in Worcestershire. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.

During the 18th century, the Emmans surname gained prominence in the county of Gloucestershire. Records from this period mention several notable individuals bearing this name, including William Emmans (1702-1782), a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Cheltenham.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, the Emmans family was well-represented in various industries and professions. One notable figure from this era was John Emmans (1825-1897), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Emmans Ironworks in Warwickshire.

Another significant individual was Sir Walter Emmans (1860-1932), a distinguished naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His exploits and contributions to the British maritime forces earned him knighthood in 1915.

Furthermore, the Emmans surname has been associated with several place names in England, such as Emmans Green in Worcestershire and Emmans Close in Gloucestershire. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Emmans surname who were landowners or prominent figures in those areas.

While the Emmans surname has its roots firmly planted in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with descendants of the original Emmans families settling in various countries over the centuries. Nevertheless, the rich history and legacy of this name remain closely tied to its English origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Emmans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emmans 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. Berkshire leads with 23 Emmans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.88x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 23 44.88x
Cambridgeshire 8 18.50x
Middlesex 8 1.17x
Yorkshire 8 1.18x
Surrey 7 2.10x
Hampshire 6 4.29x
Angus 2 3.16x
Cornwall 2 2.59x
Nottinghamshire 2 2.17x
Suffolk 2 2.41x
Royal Navy 1 12.29x
Wiltshire 1 1.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brightwaltham in Berkshire leads with 6 Emmans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6000.00x.

Place Total Index
Brightwaltham 6 6000.00x
Isleham 6 1500.00x
Winterbourne 6 7500.00x
Ufton Nervet 5 7142.86x
Ashmansworth 4 8000.00x
Camberwell 4 9.17x
Leeds 4 10.47x
Ormesby 4 219.78x
St Pancras London 4 7.28x
Fulham London 3 30.30x
Kintbury 3 750.00x
Carlton 2 190.48x
Dundee 2 8.47x
Henham 2 5000.00x
Newbury 2 121.95x
Stoke 2 127.39x
Stoke Climsland 2 408.16x
Andover 1 75.76x
Fordham 1 357.14x
Portsmouth 1 31.06x
Royal Navy 1 14.39x
Shoreditch London 1 3.38x
St Andrewthe Great 1 178.57x
Tidcombe Fosbury 1 1428.57x
Tooting Graveney 1 107.53x
Welford 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 5
Mary 4
Ellen 3
Harriet 3
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Susan 2
Annie 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Henritta 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Emmans households.

FAQ

Emmans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Emmans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Emmans surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Emmans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 96 in 2016. That gives Emmans a modern rank of #31,684.

What does the Emmans surname mean?

A phonetic rendering of the name Ammann, meaning "overseer" or "bailiff".

What does the Emmans map show?

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