NameCensus.

UK surname

Freedman

A surname referring to a former slave who has been emancipated or freed from slavery.

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Freedman surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,376, ranked #4,386, up from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Christ Church Spitalfields and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet and Hertsmere.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Freedman is 2,074 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 322.1%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

1,376

2016, ranked #4,386

Peak year

1911

2,074 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Freedman had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,376 in 2016, ranked #4,386.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,074 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Freedman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Freedman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Freedman 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 15 #30,614
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 712 #5,524
1901 historical 1,689 #3,056
1911 historical 2,074 #2,407
1997 modern 1,448 #4,030
1998 modern 1,513 #4,014
1999 modern 1,529 #4,010
2000 modern 1,511 #4,037
2001 modern 1,457 #4,084
2002 modern 1,484 #4,110
2003 modern 1,480 #4,044
2004 modern 1,444 #4,125
2005 modern 1,412 #4,166
2006 modern 1,390 #4,220
2007 modern 1,374 #4,297
2008 modern 1,361 #4,347
2009 modern 1,383 #4,371
2010 modern 1,426 #4,344
2011 modern 1,394 #4,374
2012 modern 1,374 #4,370
2013 modern 1,414 #4,334
2014 modern 1,394 #4,408
2015 modern 1,390 #4,377
2016 modern 1,376 #4,386

Geography

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Where Freedmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet and Hertsmere. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 032 Barnet
2 Barnet 033 Barnet
3 Barnet 035 Barnet
4 Barnet 028 Barnet
5 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere

Forenames

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First names often paired with Freedman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Freedman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Freedman, 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 Freedman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Freedman 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, Freedman 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

Freedman 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

Freedman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Freedman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Freedman

The surname Freedman originated in England during the medieval period, and is derived from the Old English words "freo" meaning "free" and "man" meaning "man" or "human being." The name was initially used to refer to a freeman, someone who was not bound to the land as a serf or villein.

In the early years after the Norman Conquest of 1066, the name Freedman began to appear in various records and manuscripts, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership and taxation in England. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Freedman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1176, which mentions a person named Reginald Freedman. Another early reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1199, which lists a William Freedman.

During the Middle Ages, the name Freedman was sometimes spelled in various ways, such as Friedman, Frydman, or Fryman, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. Some of these alternative spellings were also associated with places, like the village of Frydman in Shropshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Freedman throughout history include:

1. Robert Freedman (c. 1350-1420), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 14th and 15th centuries. 2. Margaret Freedman (c. 1480-1545), a landowner and benefactor from Norfolk who endowed a school in the village of Worstead. 3. John Freedman (1592-1664), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises. 4. Samuel Freedman (1708-1782), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. 5. Mary Freedman (1789-1858), an English poet and writer who published several collections of verse in the early 19th century.

While the surname Freedman has its roots in medieval England, it later spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, with various branches of the family establishing themselves in different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Freedman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Freedman 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 135 Freedmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.25x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 135 4.25x
Glamorgan 65 11.74x
Warwickshire 24 2.99x
Lancashire 19 0.50x
Somerset 19 3.71x
Yorkshire 16 0.51x
Devon 12 1.81x
Gloucestershire 10 1.60x
Midlothian 7 1.64x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.63x
Lanarkshire 6 0.58x
Staffordshire 3 0.28x
Berkshire 1 0.42x
Cornwall 1 0.28x
Surrey 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 70 Freedmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 292.64x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 70 292.64x
Swansea Town 33 72.70x
Birmingham 24 8.98x
Whitechapel London 23 73.39x
Bedminster 19 39.50x
Merthyr Tydfil 18 33.82x
St George In East London 18 60.18x
Leeds 12 6.74x
Mile End New Town London 12 191.08x
Stoke Damerel 11 23.74x
Manchester 9 5.30x
Mile End Old Town London 9 13.30x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 4.08x
Nottingham St Nicholas 7 119.86x
Gorbals 6 98.36x
Ystradyfodwg 6 12.35x
Bristol St Augustine 5 49.70x
Llantwit Vairdre 5 80.39x
Bristol St Thomas 4 563.38x
Cheetham 4 14.21x
Holy Trinity 4 5.28x
Liverpool 3 1.31x
Wolverhampton 3 3.64x
Aberavon 2 39.22x
West Derby 2 1.81x
Ashwater 1 106.38x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.72x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 17.61x
Fulham London 1 2.17x
Lambeth 1 0.36x
Layton With Warbreck 1 7.22x
Llandaff 1 5.43x
Madron Penzance 1 7.64x
Sandhurst 1 21.65x
St Luke London 1 1.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 13
Sarah 13
Leah 10
Esther 9
Fanny 9
Rebecca 7
Kate 6
Rachel 6
Rose 6
Hannah 5
Rachael 5
Jane 4
Phoebe 4
Julia 3
Amelia 2
Augusta 2
Betsy 2
Debora 2
Deborah 2
Elizabeth 2
Gertrude 2
Lina 2
Rachell 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Bloomer 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Elivia 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Gerty 1
Hinde 1
Janette 1
Jannis 1
Jenetta 1
Maria 1
Milla 1
Miriam 1
Natilie 1
Norah 1
Pheoby 1
Ziporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Abraham 12
Joseph 10
Barnett 8
Jacob 8
Isaac 6
Moses 6
Harris 5
Henry 5
Israel 5
Louis 5
Morris 5
Sampson 5
Benjamin 3
David 3
Mark 3
Samuel 3
Solomon 3
Aaron 2
Alfred 2
Barnet 2
Ephraim 2
Hyman 2
Lewis 2
Marks 2
Michael 2
Myer 2
Sidney 2
Barnard 1
Barrie 1
Davis 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Gabriel 1
Harry 1
Hazariau 1
Himan 1
Isiacc 1
Judah 1
Kaufman 1
Ludwig 1
Marky 1
Maurice 1
Meyer 1
Myers 1
Percy 1
Phineas 1
Phinias 1
Reuben 1
Rueben 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Freedman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Freedman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Freedman surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Freedman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,376 in 2016. That gives Freedman a modern rank of #4,386.

What does the Freedman surname mean?

A surname referring to a former slave who has been emancipated or freed from slavery.

What does the Freedman map show?

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