UK surname
A Jewish surname of German origin, possibly derived from the biblical figure Haman, the villain in the Book of Esther.
In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Haman surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 80, ranked #33,030, down from #20,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton and Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Haman is 213 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.1%.
1881 census count
90
Ranked #20,965
Modern count
80
2016, ranked #33,030
Peak year
1861
213 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Haman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Haman 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 | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 213 | #11,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 90 | #20,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 86 | #24,243 |
| 1997 | modern | 65 | #31,141 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 69 | #31,223 |
| 2000 | modern | 72 | #30,977 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 63 | #32,380 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 73 | #31,954 |
| 2007 | modern | 79 | #31,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 80 | #31,833 |
| 2009 | modern | 86 | #31,612 |
| 2010 | modern | 82 | #32,492 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 77 | #33,124 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 86 | #32,663 |
| 2015 | modern | 84 | #32,782 |
| 2016 | modern | 80 | #33,030 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, St Leonard Shoreditch 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 4 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Haman 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 Haman, 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 Haman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Haman 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, Haman 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 Haman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Haman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Haman is believed to have originated in Germany, possibly as early as the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the German word "hamen," which means "to hook" or "to catch," suggesting that it may have originally been an occupational surname for a fisherman or hunter.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Haman can be found in the archives of the city of Nuremberg, where a Hans Haman is mentioned in a document dated 1589. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by that time.
In the 17th century, the name Haman appears to have spread to other parts of Germany, as well as to neighboring countries such as Austria and Switzerland. For example, records from the town of Schaffhausen in Switzerland mention a Johannes Haman who was born in 1642.
One notable figure with the surname Haman was Johann Haman, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1711 to 1783. He was known for his highly detailed landscapes and architectural paintings, and his works can be found in numerous museums and galleries across Europe.
Another historical figure with the surname Haman was Karl Haman, a German military officer who served in the Prussian Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1784 and fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
In the 19th century, the Haman surname continued to be found throughout Germany and neighboring regions. One example is Friedrich Haman, a German historian and author who lived from 1826 to 1901. He wrote extensively on the history of the Middle Ages and was considered a leading scholar of his time.
As the name spread beyond its German origins, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged. For instance, in the Netherlands, the name is sometimes spelled as "Hamman," while in English-speaking countries, it may be spelled as "Hammon" or "Hammond."
Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the surname Haman remain rooted in its German heritage, reflecting its possible connection to occupations related to fishing, hunting, or other outdoor pursuits.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Haman 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. Middlesex leads with 19 Hamans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 2.16x |
| Glamorgan | 14 | 9.16x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.96x |
| Staffordshire | 9 | 3.04x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 4.07x |
| Buckinghamshire | 5 | 9.42x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.53x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 4.84x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 1.55x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 2.30x |
| Surrey | 3 | 0.70x |
| Dorset | 2 | 3.47x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.67x |
| Clackmannanshire | 1 | 13.79x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.58x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.56x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.32x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Merthyr Tydfil in Glamorgan leads with 14 Hamans recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.30x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Merthyr Tydfil | 14 | 95.30x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 8 | 64.46x |
| Tottenham | 8 | 57.22x |
| Wolverhampton | 8 | 35.12x |
| Hartpury | 7 | 2916.67x |
| Paddington London | 7 | 21.69x |
| Fawley | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Brandon Byshottles | 4 | 122.32x |
| Hardingstone | 4 | 506.33x |
| North Shields | 3 | 114.94x |
| Richmond | 3 | 50.08x |
| Shoreditch London | 3 | 7.88x |
| Upway | 2 | 909.09x |
| Alloa | 1 | 28.41x |
| Barking | 1 | 19.72x |
| Birkenhead | 1 | 6.47x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 4.33x |
| Eling | 1 | 54.95x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 13.70x |
| Kenardington | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Longton | 1 | 227.27x |
| Madeley | 1 | 35.97x |
| North Cave Drewton | 1 | 294.12x |
| Sale | 1 | 42.02x |
| St George Martyr London | 1 | 56.18x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.84x |
| Upton By Birkenhead | 1 | 526.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Haman 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 Haman 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 Haman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 16 |
| Coal Miner | 5 |
| Scolar | 4 |
| Tin Plate Maker | 4 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Dock Laborer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Mill Worker (Text) | 2 |
| (Dom) Servant | 1 |
| Adopted Son | 1 |
| Boot Carter | 1 |
| Braksman On L N W Rly | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Carpet Planer | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Dock Laborers Wife | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Dom Servt | 1 |
| Domestic Seamstress | 1 |
| Engineering Pupil(Civ Eng) | 1 |
| Farm Ser | 1 |
| Gen Labourer | 1 |
| Gen Serv Dom | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Insurance Broker | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Page | 1 |
| Pork Butcher | 1 |
| School Teacher | 1 |
| Servt Domestic | 1 |
| Shop Keeper | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Tin Plate Maker Prentice | 1 |
| Tin Plate Maker Wife | 1 |
| Wine Cellarman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Haman surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 80 in 2016. That gives Haman a modern rank of #33,030.
A Jewish surname of German origin, possibly derived from the biblical figure Haman, the villain in the Book of Esther.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Haman 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.