NameCensus.

UK surname

Furman

A Jewish occupational surname derived from the German word "Fuhrmann," meaning a carter or wagon driver.

In the 1881 census there were 51 people recorded with the Furman surname, ranking it #26,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 206, ranked #19,183, up from #26,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Hull Holy Trinity and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harlow, Camden and Harrow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Furman is 219 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 303.9%.

1881 census count

51

Ranked #26,428

Modern count

206

2016, ranked #19,183

Peak year

2014

219 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Furman had 51 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016, ranked #19,183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 156 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Furman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Furman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Furman 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 156 #14,813
1881 historical 51 #26,428
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 62 #27,252
1911 historical 88 #24,041
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 155 #21,956
2009 modern 163 #21,715
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 198 #19,340
2013 modern 209 #18,984
2014 modern 219 #18,523
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 206 #19,183

Geography

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Where Furmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Hull Holy Trinity, Paddington, St Dunstan Stepney and Nuneaton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harlow, Camden, Harrow, Leeds and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Nuneaton Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harlow 010 Harlow
2 Camden 004 Camden
3 Harrow 004 Harrow
4 Leeds 023 Leeds
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 028 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Furman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Furman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Furman, 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 Furman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Furman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Furman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Furman 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

Furman falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Furman 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Furman

The surname Furman is of Germanic origin and is believed to have been derived from the ancient German word "furman," meaning "carter" or "wagoner." This occupation-based surname likely originated in regions of modern-day Germany and the Netherlands during the Middle Ages.

In England, the name Furman is first recorded in the 13th century, appearing in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as Robert le Furman from Oxfordshire. This indicates that the name had already been established in parts of England by that time, likely brought over by Germanic settlers or traders.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Furman name was Richard Furman, a wealthy merchant who lived in London during the 15th century. He is mentioned in various records, including the city's tax rolls, between 1420 and 1452.

In the 16th century, the Furman surname can be found in various parish records across England, with variations in spelling such as Fureman, Furmane, and Furmon. Notable individuals from this period include John Furman, a landowner in Berkshire, who was born around 1520.

During the 17th century, the Furman name gained prominence in the American colonies. One of the earliest settlers bearing this surname was Edward Furman, who arrived in Massachusetts from England in 1635. He later moved to Long Island, New York, where he became a prominent landowner and founding member of the town of Hempstead.

Another notable figure was Richard Furman (1755-1825), a Baptist minister and educator from Charleston, South Carolina. He played a significant role in the development of the Baptist denomination in the United States and served as the president of the Triennial Convention, a national Baptist organization.

In the 19th century, the Furman name was associated with several influential individuals, including James C. Furman (1809-1891), a prominent judge and politician from South Carolina. He served as the Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives and later became the state's Governor.

Another notable bearer of the Furman surname was Mary Furman (1809-1892), an American educator and philanthropist. She founded the Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, which was named in honor of her family's contributions to the Baptist church and education.

Throughout history, the Furman surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, landowners, ministers, educators, and politicians. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany and the Netherlands, the name has become well-established in many parts of the world, particularly in the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Furman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Furman 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. Warwickshire leads with 19 Furmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.15x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 19 15.15x
Middlesex 8 1.61x
Nottinghamshire 5 7.46x
Surrey 5 2.06x
Essex 2 2.04x
Kent 2 1.18x
Cambridgeshire 1 3.18x
Cornwall 1 1.78x
Dorset 1 3.06x
Dunbartonshire 1 7.49x
Gloucestershire 1 1.03x
Hampshire 1 0.98x
Lancashire 1 0.17x
Lincolnshire 1 1.26x
Northamptonshire 1 2.14x
Suffolk 1 1.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 13 Furmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.11x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 13 31.11x
Nuneaton 5 344.83x
Battersea 4 21.86x
Nottingham St Mary 4 23.08x
Bromley London 3 27.42x
Mile End Old Town London 3 28.36x
Colchester St Botolph 2 240.96x
Dartford 2 115.61x
Brading 1 74.07x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 112.36x
Croydon 1 7.43x
Falmouth 1 50.25x
Greasley 1 66.23x
Haselbury Bryan 1 833.33x
Ipswich St Peter 1 121.95x
Irthlingborough 1 217.39x
Leamington 1 120.48x
Liverpool 1 2.79x
Poplar London 1 10.66x
Ratcliffe London 1 36.36x
Row 1 57.80x
Scampton 1 2500.00x
St Andrewthe Less 1 27.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Emily 3
Eliza 2
Lucy 2
Amelia 1
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Louisa 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1
Sofey 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 4
James 3
Arthur 2
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Flavius 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Willie 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 Furman households.

FAQ

Furman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Furman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 51 people were recorded with the Furman surname. That placed it at #26,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Furman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016. That gives Furman a modern rank of #19,183.

What does the Furman surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname derived from the German word "Fuhrmann," meaning a carter or wagon driver.

What does the Furman map show?

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