NameCensus.

UK surname

Homans

A surname derived from the Old English 'ham', meaning a homestead or village.

In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Homans surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 170, ranked #21,801, up from #28,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Werburgh, Newport Pagnell and Abbots Langley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Central Bedfordshire and Wychavon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Homans is 198 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 415.2%.

1881 census count

33

Ranked #28,965

Modern count

170

2016, ranked #21,801

Peak year

1999

198 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Homans had 33 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016, ranked #21,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 108 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Homans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Homans surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Homans 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 33 #28,965
1891 historical 69 #28,188
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 104 #22,209
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 198 #18,343
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 181 #19,106
2002 modern 190 #18,889
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 196 #18,438
2005 modern 188 #18,866
2006 modern 181 #19,466
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 179 #20,418
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 180 #20,954
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 170 #21,800
2016 modern 170 #21,801

Geography

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Where Homans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Werburgh, Newport Pagnell, Abbots Langley, St Luke 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 Stratford-on-Avon, Central Bedfordshire and Wychavon. 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 St Werburgh Derbyshire
2 Newport Pagnell Buckinghamshire
3 Abbots Langley Hertfordshire
4 St Luke London (Central Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 012 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Stratford-on-Avon 014 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Central Bedfordshire 025 Central Bedfordshire
4 Wychavon 011 Wychavon
5 Stratford-on-Avon 006 Stratford-on-Avon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Homans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Homans

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Homans, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Homans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Homans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Homans is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Homans is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Homans falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Homans 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Homans

The surname Homans has its origins in England, with the earliest known record dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have emerged from the Old English words "ham" and "mann," which translates to "homestead" and "man," respectively. This suggests that the name likely originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived or worked at a homestead or hamlet.

One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1191, where a person by the name of John Homans is listed. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a Geoffrey Homan is mentioned.

During the medieval period, the surname Homans was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. It is believed that the name may have derived from various place names such as Homan's Cross in Oxfordshire or Homan's Green in Worcestershire.

Historically, the Homans surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Sir John Homans (1503-1573), an English politician and Member of Parliament for the Borough of Lyme Regis during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was William Homans (1792-1868), an American physician and author from Boston, Massachusetts. He is best known for his work on the treatment of spinal diseases and his contributions to the field of orthopedics.

In the literary realm, John Homans (1803-1868) was an American publisher and editor from Cambridge, Massachusetts. He founded the Cambridge Press and was instrumental in publishing works by renowned authors such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The Homans name has also been associated with military service. Major General John Homans (1862-1935) was a United States Army officer who served in the Spanish-American War and World War I, earning several decorations for his service.

Lastly, Amelia Homans (1867-1945) was an American physician and professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine. She was a pioneer in the field of gynecology and one of the first women to be appointed to the medical faculty at Tufts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Homans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Homans 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 15 Homans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.49x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 15 18.49x
Middlesex 11 3.42x
Northamptonshire 4 13.22x
Worcestershire 3 7.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 8 Homans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.81x.

Place Total Index
Aston 8 35.81x
Bethnal Green London 4 28.63x
Oversley 4 10000.00x
St Luke London 4 77.52x
Birmingham 3 11.10x
Clerkenwell London 3 39.53x
Duston 3 1111.11x
Rushock 3 15000.00x
Wellingborough 1 65.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Jane 2
Martha 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
J.Hannah 1
Louisa 1
Sophia 1
Topsey 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Charles 2
George 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Edward 1
John 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Homans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Homans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Homans surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Homans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016. That gives Homans a modern rank of #21,801.

What does the Homans surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English 'ham', meaning a homestead or village.

What does the Homans map show?

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