UK surname
A medieval Dutch surname derived from the given name Harman.
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Harmen surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harmen is 102 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.1%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
102 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harmen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harmen surname density by area, 1861 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 | 26 | #28,667 |
| 1861 | historical | 102 | #20,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 70 | #28,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 36 | #29,370 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 17 | #36,811 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth, Hurstmonceux, Wartling and Brighton. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Hurstmonceux, Wartling | Sussex |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harmen 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 Harmen, 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 Harmen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harmen 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, Harmen 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 Harmen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harmen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harmen originated in the Netherlands during the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Dutch given name Harmen, a form of the Germanic name Harman, meaning "soldier" or "warrior." The name was particularly common in the provinces of Friesland and Groningen.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Harmen can be found in the Gouden Eeuw, a Dutch Renaissance period in the 17th century. During this time, several prominent figures bore the name, including Pieter Jansz Harmen (1562-1633), a renowned landscape painter from Amsterdam.
In the 16th century, the Harmen family was well-established in the city of Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. Historical records from this period mention Harmen van Foreest (1523-1592), a influential politician and mayor of Leeuwarden.
The name Harmen also appears in several historical documents from the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia), which was a Dutch colony from the 17th to the 20th century. Harmen Lodewyckz (1593-1651), a Dutch merchant and explorer, was one of the first Europeans to establish trade relations with the Sultanate of Banten.
In the 19th century, the Harmen surname gained prominence in the Netherlands through the work of Harmen Gerritsz Kuijper (1854-1933), a famous Dutch architect known for his innovative designs and the use of modern construction techniques.
Another notable figure with the Harmen surname was Harmen Rutgers (1879-1961), a Dutch-American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the establishment of Rutgers University in New Jersey, United States.
Throughout its history, the Harmen surname has been associated with various occupations, including artists, politicians, merchants, architects, and businessmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who bore this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harmen 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. Sussex leads with 16 Harmens recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 16 | 13.33x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.42x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.59x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 5.01x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 6.61x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.56x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 5.61x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 2.06x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 4.76x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 2.31x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.64x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.41x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.05x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.94x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.91x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.08x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 9 Harmens recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 9 | 37.16x |
| Parr | 9 | 298.01x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 11.28x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 7 | 127.50x |
| Eastleach Turville | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Henfield | 4 | 869.57x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 3 | 117.19x |
| Manchester | 3 | 7.90x |
| Newbury | 3 | 175.44x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.40x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 22.22x |
| Lowestoft | 2 | 48.78x |
| Market Lavington | 2 | 588.24x |
| Portsea | 2 | 6.99x |
| Stroud | 2 | 73.53x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 44.44x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 1 | 42.55x |
| Drypool | 1 | 92.59x |
| Edinburgh High Church | 1 | 166.67x |
| Eling | 1 | 67.57x |
| Isleworth | 1 | 31.55x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.53x |
| Norwich St Paul | 1 | 151.52x |
| Raglan | 1 | 555.56x |
| Stockport | 1 | 12.36x |
| Stourbridge | 1 | 41.84x |
| Wardour | 1 | 555.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harmen 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 Harmen 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 Harmen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 11 |
| Scolar | 5 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Teacher At Board School | 2 |
| Apprentice Draper | 1 |
| Apprentice To Gasfitter | 1 |
| At Home | 1 |
| Auctioneer | 1 |
| Bookmaker | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenters Wife | 1 |
| Carver & Gilder | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coml Clerk Business | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cotton Carder C M | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Factory Operative | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farm Labourer ((W)) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Grocer Warehouseman | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer In Brewery | 1 |
| Merchant Seaman | 1 |
| Miller (C) | 1 |
| Miner | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| Retired Head Constable Royal Irish Constabulary | 1 |
| Retired Schoolmistress | 1 |
| Sailors Wife | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Sewing Machinist | 1 |
| Shirt Maker | 1 |
| Solicitor | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Teacher Of Music | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Wife Of A Fish Carter | 1 |
| Woolen Cloth Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Harmen surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Harmen a modern rank of #37,178.
A medieval Dutch surname derived from the given name Harman.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harmen 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.