UK surname
An occupational surname referring to someone who transported passengers across rivers or other bodies of water by boat for a fee.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Ferryman surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Willesden and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ferryman is 100 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.6%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1901
100 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ferryman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ferryman surname density by area, 1901 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 | 51 | #24,096 |
| 1861 | historical | 87 | #22,681 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 78 | #25,013 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 71 | #31,036 |
| 2000 | modern | 73 | #30,881 |
| 2001 | modern | 70 | #31,016 |
| 2002 | modern | 69 | #31,527 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 69 | #33,560 |
| 2011 | modern | 64 | #33,917 |
| 2012 | modern | 66 | #33,901 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 60 | #34,400 |
| 2015 | modern | 61 | #34,284 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Willesden, London parishes, Leckhampton and Datchett. 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 | St Bees | Cumberland |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Leckhampton | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Datchett | Buckinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ferryman 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 Ferryman, 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 Ferryman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ferryman 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, Ferryman 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 Ferryman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ferryman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ferryman is an English occupational surname that originated in the medieval period. It derives from the Old English words "feren" meaning to convey or carry, and "man" referring to a person. The name was given to those who operated ferry boats, transporting people and goods across bodies of water.
Ferrymen played a vital role in medieval times, facilitating travel and trade across rivers and other waterways before the construction of permanent bridges. The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ferryman can be traced back to the 13th century in various English counties, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Essex.
One notable historical reference to the name Ferryman can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex, a legal record dating back to 1285, which mentions a John le Feryman. This document provides evidence of the occupation and the surname's usage during that period.
In the 14th century, the Ferryman surname appeared in various forms, including Ferymon, Feryman, and Feriman, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. One example is William Feriman, recorded in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379.
The surname Ferryman was not limited to any particular region of England, as ferrymen were needed across the country. However, some areas with a higher concentration of rivers and waterways, such as the counties of Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire, had a more significant presence of individuals bearing this surname.
Among the notable individuals with the surname Ferryman throughout history are:
1. John Ferryman (c. 1450-1520), a prominent merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire. 2. William Ferryman (c. 1560-1635), a respected ferryman who operated a ferry service across the River Thames near Windsor. 3. Richard Ferryman (c. 1600-1670), a ferryman and innkeeper in the village of Shepperton, known for his involvement in local affairs. 4. Elizabeth Ferryman (c. 1620-1690), a skilled weaver and businesswoman from the town of Newbury, Berkshire. 5. Thomas Ferryman (c. 1735-1812), a ferryboat captain who served during the American Revolutionary War, transporting troops and supplies across the Delaware River.
These examples illustrate the historical presence of the Ferryman surname and its association with the occupation of ferrying people and goods across bodies of water, a vital service in pre-modern times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ferryman 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. Lancashire leads with 18 Ferrymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.36x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 18 | 2.36x |
| Cumberland | 11 | 19.85x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.24x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.73x |
| Buckinghamshire | 5 | 12.85x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 8.28x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 3.17x |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 5.61x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 4.64x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 7.82x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston Quarter in Cumberland leads with 10 Ferrymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 645.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Preston Quarter | 10 | 645.16x |
| Gorton | 6 | 83.57x |
| Tottenham | 6 | 58.54x |
| Datchet | 5 | 1851.85x |
| Kirkdale | 5 | 38.91x |
| Newchurch | 5 | 80.00x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 4 | 11.53x |
| Leckhampton | 4 | 512.82x |
| New Windsor | 4 | 246.91x |
| Tonbridge | 4 | 50.51x |
| Loughborough | 3 | 92.59x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.43x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 5.90x |
| Everton | 1 | 4.11x |
| Hartford | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Heston | 1 | 46.73x |
| High Ireby | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.60x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 8.54x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.16x |
| Sileby | 1 | 222.22x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ferryman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ferryman 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 Ferryman households.
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Ferryman surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Ferryman a modern rank of #34,287.
An occupational surname referring to someone who transported passengers across rivers or other bodies of water by boat for a fee.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ferryman 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.