UK surname
A surname derived from the occupation of firefighting.
In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Fireman surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #30,872 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Manchester and Great Yarmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fireman is 180 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 131.6%.
1881 census count
19
Ranked #30,872
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1861
180 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fireman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fireman surname density by area, 1861 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 | 50 | #24,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 180 | #13,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 19 | #30,872 |
| 1891 | historical | 75 | #27,414 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 80 | #24,821 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 42 | #33,658 |
| 2002 | modern | 36 | #34,480 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 39 | #34,652 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 38 | #35,262 |
| 2009 | modern | 37 | #35,434 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 47 | #35,071 |
| 2014 | modern | 47 | #35,097 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Manchester, Great Yarmouth, Linton 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover St James, Dover St Mary | Kent |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Great Yarmouth | Norfolk |
| 4 | Linton | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fireman 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 Fireman, 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 Fireman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fireman 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, Fireman 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 Fireman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fireman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fireman originated in England during the late 16th century. It was an occupational name referring to individuals who tended fires or maintained hearths. The name is derived from the Middle English words "fyre" meaning fire, and "man" meaning a person.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Fireman can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, where a Thomas Fireman was listed as a resident in 1592. The name was also present in other parts of England, such as Norfolk and Suffolk, during the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
In the 17th century, the surname Fireman appeared in various legal documents and court records. For example, a John Fireman was mentioned in the Middlesex County Records in 1658. Additionally, a Richard Fireman was recorded in the parish registers of St. Andrew's Church in Cambridge in 1674.
Historically, the surname Fireman has been associated with individuals involved in firefighting or fire prevention efforts. One notable individual was William Fireman (1768-1832), a pioneering firefighter from London who played a crucial role in establishing the first professional fire brigade in the city.
Another notable bearer of the surname was Robert Fireman (1812-1888), an English engineer and inventor who patented several fire-fighting devices, including an early version of a fire extinguisher. His innovations contributed significantly to improving fire safety measures in the 19th century.
In the United States, the surname Fireman was brought by immigrants from England and other parts of the British Isles. One prominent American with this surname was John Fireman (1843-1910), a civic leader and philanthropist from New York City who founded the Fireman Charitable Trust, which supported various educational and cultural initiatives.
Another notable individual was Sarah Fireman (1867-1952), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms in the early 20th century. She was arrested multiple times for her involvement in protests and demonstrations.
The surname Fireman has also been found in other parts of the world, such as Germany and the Netherlands, where variations like Feuermann and Vuurman exist. However, these are likely derived from different linguistic roots and may not be directly related to the English surname Fireman.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fireman 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. Staffordshire leads with 5 Firemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 5 | 8.00x |
| Sussex | 5 | 16.01x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 7.83x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.58x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.54x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 12.03x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 4.43x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.11x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 4.13x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bilston in Staffordshire leads with 5 Firemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 413.22x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bilston | 5 | 413.22x |
| Ifield | 5 | 3846.15x |
| Gilston | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 42.74x |
| Ilkley | 1 | 333.33x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 1 | 129.87x |
| North Meols | 1 | 46.51x |
| Perth | 1 | 0.00x |
| Putney | 1 | 119.05x |
| Upperswinford | 1 | 500.00x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 42.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fireman 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 Fireman 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 Fireman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Agents Wife | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Insurance Agent | 1 |
| Parlourmaid | 1 |
| Saddler | 1 |
| Tilemaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Fireman surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Fireman a modern rank of #35,224.
A surname derived from the occupation of firefighting.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fireman 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.