NameCensus.

UK surname

Goldman

A Jewish occupational surname referring to someone who worked with gold, such as a goldsmith or banker.

In the 1881 census there were 376 people recorded with the Goldman surname, ranking it #8,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 846, ranked #6,610, up from #8,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Salford and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goldman is 1,299 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 125.0%.

1881 census count

376

Ranked #8,326

Modern count

846

2016, ranked #6,610

Peak year

1911

1,299 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goldman had 376 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 846 in 2016, ranked #6,610.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,299 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Goldman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goldman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Goldman 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 32 #27,570
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 376 #8,326
1891 historical 575 #6,620
1901 historical 1,049 #4,573
1911 historical 1,299 #3,670
1997 modern 879 #6,077
1998 modern 902 #6,152
1999 modern 912 #6,140
2000 modern 936 #6,005
2001 modern 900 #6,089
2002 modern 910 #6,149
2003 modern 912 #6,019
2004 modern 893 #6,132
2005 modern 904 #6,009
2006 modern 874 #6,178
2007 modern 883 #6,180
2008 modern 859 #6,365
2009 modern 859 #6,522
2010 modern 878 #6,525
2011 modern 887 #6,382
2012 modern 853 #6,513
2013 modern 868 #6,531
2014 modern 871 #6,531
2015 modern 853 #6,581
2016 modern 846 #6,610

Geography

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Where Goldmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel, Manchester, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Salford, Bury, Leeds and Barnet. 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 001 Hackney
2 Salford 010 Salford
3 Bury 019 Bury
4 Leeds 015 Leeds
5 Barnet 014 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Goldman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Goldman

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

Goldman 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

Goldman 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 Goldman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Goldman

Goldman is a Jewish surname of German origin, derived from the German words "gold" meaning gold, and "mann" meaning man. The name likely originated in the late Middle Ages or Renaissance period, referring to someone who worked with gold or was involved in the goldsmith trade.

The earliest known recorded instances of the Goldman surname date back to the 16th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the areas of Bavaria and Franconia. Some of the earliest documented references can be found in historical records such as tax rolls, guild registries, and church records.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Goldman name began to spread across other parts of Europe, including Poland, Russia, and the Netherlands, often being adopted by Jewish families who migrated to these regions. Variations in spelling, such as Goldmann, Goldman, and Goltman, were also common during this time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the Goldman surname was Jacob Goldman, a prominent goldsmith who lived in Nuremberg, Germany in the late 16th century. His work was highly regarded, and he is mentioned in several historical accounts of the city's artisans and craftsmen.

Another notable Goldman was Samuel Goldman, a Jewish scholar and writer who lived in Prague in the early 17th century. He authored several works on Jewish law and philosophy, and his writings were widely influential in the Jewish intellectual circles of his time.

In the 19th century, the Goldman name gained further recognition with the rise of several prominent figures, including Marcus Goldman, a German-born banker who co-founded the investment banking firm Goldman Sachs in 1869 in New York City (1821-1904).

Other notable individuals with the Goldman surname include Emma Goldman, a Russian-born anarchist and political activist who played a pivotal role in the labor movement in the United States (1869-1940), and Harry Goldman, an American songwriter and composer known for his contributions to Tin Pan Alley and Broadway (1904-1981).

Throughout its history, the Goldman surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, scholars, and businessmen, further solidifying its place as a distinctive and storied Jewish surname with deep roots in German and European history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Goldman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goldman 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 129 Goldmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.47x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 129 3.47x
Yorkshire 62 1.68x
Lancashire 46 1.04x
Glamorgan 31 4.79x
Warwickshire 24 2.56x
Durham 17 1.54x
Surrey 16 0.88x
Hampshire 9 1.18x
Nottinghamshire 9 1.80x
Gloucestershire 7 0.96x
Kent 7 0.55x
Lincolnshire 7 1.18x
Staffordshire 6 0.48x
Lanarkshire 5 0.42x
Isle of Man 4 5.80x
Bedfordshire 1 0.52x
Roxburghshire 1 1.49x

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 32 Goldmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.39x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 32 15.39x
Whitechapel London 31 84.63x
Birmingham 24 7.68x
Holy Trinity 23 25.97x
St George In East London 20 57.21x
Spitalfields London 19 67.98x
Cheetham 18 54.73x
Swansea Town 18 33.92x
Bishopwearmouth 15 15.80x
Manchester 14 7.06x
Shoreditch London 12 7.45x
St Botolph Aldgate London 10 130.72x
Liverpool 9 3.36x
Portsea 9 6.03x
Battersea 8 5.85x
Cardiff St John 8 37.84x
Mile End New Town London 8 108.99x
Nottingham St Nicholas 8 117.30x
Clee With Weelsby 7 53.80x
Lewisham 7 10.35x
Bristol St Paul In 6 30.90x
Old Artillery Ground 6 187.50x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 4.51x
Streatham 6 21.76x
Barony 5 1.64x
Hackney London 4 1.92x
Islington London 4 1.11x
Mile End Old Town London 4 5.06x
Onchan 4 20.12x
Sheffield 4 3.41x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 24.86x
West Derby 4 3.10x
Roath 3 10.21x
Hammersmith London 2 2.18x
Lambeth 2 0.62x
St Bartholomew Less 2 104.71x
Ystradyfodwg 2 3.52x
Dewsbury 1 2.65x
Everton 1 0.71x
Hawick 1 6.64x
Kensington London 1 0.48x
Linthorpe 1 4.55x
Luton 1 3.00x
Nether Hallam 1 2.01x
Snenton 1 5.08x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 19.01x
St Marylebone London 1 0.50x
Stranton 1 2.69x
Sunderland 1 5.12x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 13
Annie 11
Rachel 9
Leah 8
Amelia 6
Mary 5
Rachael 5
Caroline 4
Dora 4
Esther 4
Minnie 4
Selina 4
Alice 3
Deborah 3
Eleanor 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Rebecca 3
Anne 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Milly 2
Miriam 2
Rose 2
Rosie 2
Agusta 1
Ann 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Birtha 1
Clara 1
Dorah 1
Dory 1
Dovy 1
Ealin 1
Eater 1
Edith 1
Elena 1
Flora 1
Gertrude 1
Golder 1
Goldy 1
Henrietta 1
Honoria 1
Ivy 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Isaac 11
Abraham 10
Henry 8
Jacob 8
Joseph 8
George 6
Louis 6
Harry 5
Lewis 5
Morris 5
Simon 5
Aaron 4
Harris 4
Mark 4
Marks 4
Samuel 4
Soloman 4
Hyman 3
Israel 3
Moses 3
Newman 3
Phillip 3
William 3
Abram 2
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
David 2
Davis 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Joel 2
John 2
Marcus 2
Myer 2
Philip 2
Solomon 2
Alick 1
Barnett 1
Daniel 1
Fisher 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.W.A. 1
Harriss 1
Isriel 1
James 1
Jean 1
Jerard 1
Jerry 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Goldman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goldman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 376 people were recorded with the Goldman surname. That placed it at #8,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goldman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 846 in 2016. That gives Goldman a modern rank of #6,610.

What does the Goldman surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname referring to someone who worked with gold, such as a goldsmith or banker.

What does the Goldman map show?

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