NameCensus.

UK surname

Fishman

An occupational surname referring to a fisherman or seller of fish.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Fishman surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 189, ranked #20,334, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel and Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fishman is 225 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18800.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

189

2016, ranked #20,334

Peak year

2000

225 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Fishman had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016, ranked #20,334.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 207 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Fishman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Fishman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Fishman 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 79 #26,897
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 207 #14,635
1997 modern 207 #17,267
1998 modern 224 #16,888
1999 modern 216 #17,364
2000 modern 225 #16,891
2001 modern 217 #17,059
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 218 #17,131
2004 modern 217 #17,276
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 196 #18,512
2007 modern 197 #18,669
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 189 #19,727
2010 modern 194 #19,819
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 184 #20,291
2013 modern 185 #20,575
2014 modern 190 #20,374
2015 modern 188 #20,417
2016 modern 189 #20,334

Geography

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Where Fishmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington), Newcastle All Saints and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet and Redbridge. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) Durham
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 033 Barnet
2 Barnet 028 Barnet
3 Barnet 035 Barnet
4 Redbridge 014 Redbridge
5 Barnet 037 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Fishman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Fishman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Fishman, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Fishman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Fishman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Fishman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Fishman is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Fishman falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Fishman 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Fishman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Fishman

The surname Fishman has its origins in medieval England, deriving from the Middle English term "fishere" or "fisshere," which referred to an individual whose occupation was fishing. This name first appeared in records dating back to the 13th century, reflecting the growing prevalence of hereditary surnames during this period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a certain William le Fysshere is mentioned. This entry provides insight into the occupational nature of the surname and its association with the fishing trade.

The Fishman surname likely originated in coastal regions or areas near major rivers and lakes, where fishing served as a vital economic activity. It is closely related to other English surnames derived from occupations, such as Miller, Baker, and Cooper.

As time passed, variations in spelling emerged, including Fysshman, Fisshman, and Fischman, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic evolution. These variations persisted until the standardization of English spelling in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Notable individuals bearing the Fishman surname include John Fishman (1521-1589), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, and William Fishman (1654-1718), a renowned clockmaker whose works are preserved in the British Museum.

Another figure of historical significance was Sarah Fishman (1792-1867), a pioneer in the field of women's education. She founded one of the first schools for girls in London, paving the way for greater educational opportunities for women.

In the realm of literature, the Fishman name is represented by the acclaimed novelist and essayist, Henry Fishman (1871-1947), whose works explored themes of identity, immigration, and the human condition.

More recently, the name gained prominence through the achievements of Samuel Fishman (1921-2003), a renowned physicist who made significant contributions to the understanding of quantum mechanics and solid-state physics.

Throughout its history, the Fishman surname has been borne by individuals from diverse walks of life, reflecting the rich tapestry of human experience and the enduring legacy of occupational surnames in English nomenclature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Fishman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fishman 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. Yorkshire leads with 1 Fishmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1 10.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 1 Fishmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.19x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Rachael 1

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 Fishman households.

Occupation Count
No Occupation 1

FAQ

Fishman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Fishman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Fishman surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Fishman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 189 in 2016. That gives Fishman a modern rank of #20,334.

What does the Fishman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a fisherman or seller of fish.

What does the Fishman map show?

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