NameCensus.

UK surname

Footman

An occupational surname derived from a servant who ran errands on foot.

In the 1881 census there were 261 people recorded with the Footman surname, ranking it #10,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 241, ranked #17,233, down from #10,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Carmarthen St Peter (incl. Castle Green), Newchurch and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Islington and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Footman is 326 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.7%.

1881 census count

261

Ranked #10,752

Modern count

241

2016, ranked #17,233

Peak year

1911

326 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Footman had 261 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016, ranked #17,233.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Footman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Footman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Footman 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 177 #11,441
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 261 #10,752
1891 historical 261 #12,337
1901 historical 302 #11,592
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 261 #14,849
1998 modern 256 #15,436
1999 modern 253 #15,667
2000 modern 259 #15,390
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 247 #15,821
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 246 #16,086
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 255 #16,183
2010 modern 253 #16,652
2011 modern 265 #15,980
2012 modern 252 #16,424
2013 modern 245 #17,025
2014 modern 253 #16,774
2015 modern 246 #16,994
2016 modern 241 #17,233

Geography

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Where Footmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Carmarthen St Peter (incl. Castle Green), Newchurch, London parishes and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Islington, Carmarthenshire and Wolverhampton. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Carmarthen St Peter (incl. Castle Green), Newchurch Carmarthenshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire
2 Islington 016 Islington
3 Carmarthenshire 005 Carmarthenshire
4 Wolverhampton 004 Wolverhampton
5 Wolverhampton 003 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Footman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Footman

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Footman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Footman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Footman

The surname Footman has its origins in England, where it first appeared as an occupational name during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old English word "fot," meaning foot, and the suffix "-man," indicating a servant or attendant. It refers to a servant who attended on foot, often running ahead of a horse-drawn carriage or accompanying a person on foot.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Footman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Foteman." This historical record provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England during the 11th century.

In the 14th century, records from the city of York mention a John Footman, who was a prominent citizen and landowner. Another early reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, which list a Roger Foteman among the county's residents.

During the 16th century, the name Footman became more widespread, and variations in spelling emerged, such as Footeman and Foottman. One notable bearer of the name was William Footman (c. 1520-1592), a wealthy merchant and alderman from the city of Bristol.

In the 17th century, the surname Footman gained further recognition with the rise of Thomas Footman (1633-1676), a noted English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Charlton Musgrove in Somerset.

As the name spread across England, it also took on various localized spellings, such as Footeman in the county of Norfolk and Foottman in Worcestershire. The 18th century saw the birth of John Footman (1767-1843), a renowned English botanist and horticulturist who made significant contributions to the study of plants.

Throughout its history, the surname Footman has been associated with numerous individuals from different walks of life, including William Footman (1785-1867), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Kent, and Sir Robert Footman (1834-1911), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for East Cambridgeshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Footman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Footman 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. Middlesex leads with 72 Footmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.83x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 72 2.83x
Worcestershire 47 14.14x
Staffordshire 41 4.77x
Surrey 24 1.93x
Carmarthenshire 18 16.77x
Bedfordshire 12 9.10x
Hertfordshire 10 5.70x
Warwickshire 10 1.56x
Leicestershire 5 1.77x
Kent 4 0.46x
Lincolnshire 4 0.98x
Berkshire 3 1.57x
Suffolk 3 0.97x
Oxfordshire 2 1.27x
Devon 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.60x
Essex 1 0.20x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.24x
Sussex 1 0.23x
Wiltshire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Bromwich in Staffordshire leads with 15 Footmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.49x.

Place Total Index
West Bromwich 15 30.49x
Wolverhampton 13 19.67x
Carmarthen St Peter 12 130.86x
Bedford St Paul 11 121.68x
Abbots Langley 10 383.14x
Shrawley 10 2500.00x
Hammersmith London 9 14.35x
Little Witley 9 4736.84x
Kidderminster Borough 8 41.11x
Aston 7 3.96x
Kingswinford 7 22.44x
Cannock 6 40.00x
Hindlip 6 2608.70x
Islington London 6 2.43x
Llandingat 6 245.90x
Poplar London 6 12.49x
Putney 6 51.72x
Shoreditch London 6 5.44x
Stoke Newington London 6 30.26x
All Hallows Barking 5 781.25x
Bethnal Green London 5 4.52x
Kensington London 5 3.53x
Limehouse London 5 17.89x
Lutterworth 5 290.70x
Southwark St John 5 64.18x
Stoke Prior 5 243.90x
Nocton 4 727.27x
Southwark Christchurch 4 33.53x
St George In East London 4 16.70x
Birmingham 3 1.40x
Camberwell 3 1.84x
Hadsor 3 3000.00x
Martley 3 315.79x
Reading St Giles 3 16.00x
Rotherhithe 3 9.54x
Shadwell London 3 42.13x
St Botolph Aldgate London 3 57.25x
St Paul Covent Garden 3 117.65x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.99x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 23.02x
Oxford St Clement 2 50.38x
Paddington London 2 2.14x
Alvechurch 1 70.92x
Brighton 1 1.15x
Bromley 1 7.55x
Grimley 1 158.73x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 126.58x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 9.51x
Lambeth 1 0.45x
Marlborough 1 263.16x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.85x
Paignton 1 24.81x
Parkstone 1 51.28x
Pembroke St Mary 1 9.60x
Shefford 1 106.38x
South Mimms 1 28.65x
Southwark St Saviour 1 7.65x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 9.07x
St Pancras London 1 0.49x
Tibberton 1 333.33x
Wandsworth 1 4.08x
Woolwich 1 3.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 13
James 9
Thomas 8
Edward 7
George 6
Henry 6
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Beny 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Harrold 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Footman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Footman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 261 people were recorded with the Footman surname. That placed it at #10,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Footman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 241 in 2016. That gives Footman a modern rank of #17,233.

What does the Footman surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from a servant who ran errands on foot.

What does the Footman map show?

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