UK surname
A surname meaning "man of peace" or "peaceful man" in German.
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Fredman surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 54, ranked #34,678, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Christ Church Spitalfields and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Fredman is 140 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.5%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
54
2016, ranked #34,678
Peak year
1891
140 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Fredman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Fredman surname density by area, 1891 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 | 10 | #31,497 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 140 | #19,193 |
| 1901 | historical | 63 | #27,134 |
| 1911 | historical | 97 | #23,076 |
| 1997 | modern | 43 | #33,361 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 42 | #34,040 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 42 | #34,395 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 57 | #34,015 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 56 | #34,450 |
| 2012 | modern | 46 | #35,053 |
| 2013 | modern | 46 | #35,110 |
| 2014 | modern | 52 | #34,803 |
| 2015 | modern | 52 | #34,775 |
| 2016 | modern | 54 | #34,678 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, Christ Church Spitalfields, Manchester, St Leonard Bromley and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. 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 George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju | Norfolk |
| 2 | Christ Church Spitalfields | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Leonard Bromley | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Fredman 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 Fredman, 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 Fredman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Fredman 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, Fredman 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 Fredman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Fredman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Fredman has its origins in Germany and dates back to the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old German words "frid" meaning peace and "man" meaning man, thus suggesting that the original bearer was a peaceful or gentle man.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fredman can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the former Principality of Anhalt, dating back to the 13th century. The entry mentions a "Friedrich Fredman" from the town of Zerbst.
In the 15th century, records show a Fredman family residing in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria. This family is believed to have played a significant role in the local community, with several members serving as town councilors.
The name Fredman also appears in the Kirchenbücher (church records) of Saxony from the 16th century onwards. Notable individuals from this period include Johann Fredman (1542-1610), a Lutheran pastor, and Hans Fredman (1578-1642), a successful merchant and landowner.
In the 17th century, a branch of the Fredman family migrated to Sweden, where the name was adapted to the Swedish spelling "Fredman." One of the most famous Swedes with this surname was Carl Michael Bellman (1740-1795), a poet and composer known for his Fredman's Epistles and Songs.
Another notable Fredman was Friedrich Gottlob Fredman (1776-1842), a German composer and music theorist who worked in Leipzig and Dresden. His compositions include operas, symphonies, and chamber works.
In the 19th century, the name Fredman can be found in various parts of Europe, including Austria, where Carl Fredman (1833-1891) was a prominent architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Vienna.
As the surname spread across Europe and beyond, variations in spelling emerged, such as Friedman, Freedman, and Friedmann. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the Old German words "frid" and "man."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Fredman 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. Devon leads with 19 Fredmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 19 | 24.00x |
| Norfolk | 8 | 13.68x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 4.06x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 1.06x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.53x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 2.37x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 11 Fredmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 198.56x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Damerel | 11 | 198.56x |
| Norwich All Sts | 8 | 16000.00x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 8 | 131.15x |
| Glasgow | 5 | 22.89x |
| Leeds | 4 | 18.80x |
| Edgware | 1 | 909.09x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 9.73x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 34.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Fredman 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 Fredman 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 Fredman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Assistant (Shop) | 1 |
| Cook (ND) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Gen Dealer | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Outfitter (G S) | 1 |
| Traveller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Fredman surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 54 in 2016. That gives Fredman a modern rank of #34,678.
A surname meaning "man of peace" or "peaceful man" in German.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Fredman 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.