NameCensus.

UK surname

Horseman

An occupational surname referring to someone who cared for or worked with horses.

In the 1881 census there were 531 people recorded with the Horseman surname, ranking it #6,470 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 719, ranked #7,553, down from #6,470 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Llanhilleth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Horseman is 773 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.4%.

1881 census count

531

Ranked #6,470

Modern count

719

2016, ranked #7,553

Peak year

1999

773 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Horseman had 531 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,470 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 719 in 2016, ranked #7,553.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 729 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Horseman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Horseman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Horseman 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 365 #6,492
1861 historical 358 #7,132
1881 historical 531 #6,470
1891 historical 617 #6,250
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 671 #6,286
1997 modern 717 #7,115
1998 modern 757 #7,041
1999 modern 773 #6,977
2000 modern 765 #6,999
2001 modern 758 #6,937
2002 modern 745 #7,146
2003 modern 717 #7,239
2004 modern 711 #7,305
2005 modern 712 #7,229
2006 modern 719 #7,210
2007 modern 711 #7,336
2008 modern 702 #7,463
2009 modern 725 #7,428
2010 modern 741 #7,439
2011 modern 725 #7,499
2012 modern 725 #7,420
2013 modern 748 #7,361
2014 modern 743 #7,442
2015 modern 723 #7,537
2016 modern 719 #7,553

Geography

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Where Horsemans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Llanhilleth, Stranton and Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Llanhilleth Monmouthshire
4 Stranton Durham
5 Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bristol 002 Bristol, City of
2 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
3 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire
4 Hartlepool 008 Hartlepool
5 Stockton-on-Tees 001 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Horseman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Horseman

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Horseman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Horseman is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Horseman falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Horseman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Horseman

The surname Horseman is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in areas where horse breeding and cavalry activities were prevalent. Its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "hors," meaning horse, combined with the suffix "-man," indicating a person who worked with or tended horses.

One of the earliest known references to the Horseman surname appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and taxation compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a "Horseman" residing in the county of Wiltshire, suggesting the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show the Horseman name associated with various localities, such as Horseman's Green in Hertfordshire and Horseman's Field in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the Horseman surname who resided or owned property in those areas.

Notable individuals with the Horseman surname throughout history include:

1. William Horseman (c. 1500 - 1570), an English landowner and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Horseman (1635 - 1703), a prominent colonist and merchant in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, known for his involvement in the fur trade and land acquisitions. 3. Elizabeth Horseman (1768 - 1837), a British author and poet, best known for her collection of romantic verses titled "Floral Fancies." 4. Henry Horseman (1805 - 1878), a renowned English architect credited with designing several churches and public buildings in London during the Victorian era. 5. James Horseman (1920 - 2001), a decorated World War II veteran and recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his heroic actions in the Battle of the Bulge.

In some instances, the surname Horseman may have evolved from alternative spellings or related occupational names, such as Horsman, Horsekeeper, or Marshman, all referring to individuals involved in equine care or stable management.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Horseman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Horseman 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. Yorkshire leads with 183 Horsemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.57x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 183 3.57x
Gloucestershire 57 5.61x
Warwickshire 46 3.52x
Durham 35 2.27x
Middlesex 33 0.64x
Lancashire 19 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 15 4.79x
Kent 15 0.85x
Oxfordshire 13 4.06x
Surrey 13 0.52x
Devon 12 1.11x
Hampshire 10 0.94x
Essex 9 0.88x
Staffordshire 9 0.51x
Cumberland 8 1.79x
Lincolnshire 8 0.97x
Monmouthshire 8 2.14x
Derbyshire 6 0.74x
Worcestershire 6 0.89x
Berkshire 5 1.29x
Dunbartonshire 3 2.16x
Hertfordshire 3 0.84x
Leicestershire 3 0.52x
Northamptonshire 3 0.62x
Northumberland 3 0.39x
Wiltshire 3 0.65x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Knaresborough in Yorkshire leads with 19 Horsemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 235.73x.

Place Total Index
Knaresborough 19 235.73x
Whitchurch 13 3611.11x
Wycombe 13 55.70x
Bristol St George 12 25.54x
Great Burdon 12 5714.29x
Stapleton 12 62.27x
Leeds 11 3.80x
West Alvington 11 728.48x
Headingley Cum Burley 10 30.27x
Boroughbridge 9 523.26x
Preston On Stour 9 1875.00x
Southampton All Sts 9 49.40x
St Pancras London 9 2.16x
Selby 8 74.56x
St Cuthbert W O 8 36.80x
Westerham 8 196.08x
Winterbourne 8 142.60x
Kensington London 7 2.43x
St Marylebone London 7 2.53x
Trevethin 7 19.80x
Weston On Avon 7 2333.33x
Acomb 6 223.88x
Brightside Bierlow 6 5.96x
Easby In Richmond 6 2727.27x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 19.95x
Newington 6 3.14x
Ripon 6 50.38x
St Giles In Fields London 6 23.61x
Wolstanton Knutton 6 56.18x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 5.23x
Dagenham 5 82.24x
Falsgrave 5 66.14x
Gate Fulford 5 41.70x
Holgate 5 500.00x
Keighley 5 9.14x
Knottingley 5 55.43x
Spanby 5 2777.78x
Staveley 5 34.75x
Streatham 5 13.01x
Thornton In Bradford 5 29.26x
York St Lawrence 5 93.46x
York St Margaret 5 157.23x
Addingham 4 104.44x
Armley 4 17.67x
Badsey 4 392.16x
Birmingham 4 0.92x
Burnley 4 7.73x
Castleton 4 6.52x
Edgbaston 4 9.88x
Greenwich 4 4.85x
Hutton Conyers 4 1666.67x
Kingsbury 4 143.37x
Nether Hallam 4 5.76x
Oxford St Giles 4 26.21x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 4 105.54x
Snitterfield 4 277.78x
Swalcliffe Sibford Gower 4 526.32x
Tonge 4 31.01x
Aston Cantlow 3 153.85x
Berkeley Hamfallow 3 163.04x
Bristol St Paul In 3 11.09x
Duston 3 67.87x
Gateshead 3 2.60x
Kilburn 3 434.78x
Low Dinsdale 3 666.67x
Reading St Mary 3 9.63x
Richmond 3 37.41x
Row 3 16.66x
Scotton In Richmond 3 1428.57x
Steeple Langford 3 322.58x
Tong 3 30.27x
Tudhoe 3 22.26x
York St Saviour 3 61.22x
Byker 2 5.25x
Camberwell 2 0.60x
Linthorpe 2 6.53x
Norton In Malton 2 32.15x
Old Stratford 2 27.03x
Stratford On Avon 2 27.62x
Wakefield 2 5.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 22
Emma 12
Hannah 12
Ann 11
Annie 11
Jane 10
Eliza 9
Emily 9
Louisa 7
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Margaret 5
Alice 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Amy 3
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Matilda 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Flora 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Anna 1
Betty 1
Elizar 1
Elizebeth 1
Ellin 1
Eva 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Janie 1
Katherine 1
Lila 1
Louiza 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 33
John 26
George 22
Thomas 18
James 14
Edward 10
Frederick 10
Henry 9
Charles 8
Robert 8
Albert 6
Fred 6
Richard 6
Herbert 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Christopher 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Giles 2
Isaac 2
Percy 2
Rowland 2
Thos. 2
Cecil 1
Chorrton 1
Christr. 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Emmanuel 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Gregory 1
Horner 1
Infant 1
Jim 1
Louis 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
Rob. 1

FAQ

Horseman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Horseman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 531 people were recorded with the Horseman surname. That placed it at #6,470 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Horseman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 719 in 2016. That gives Horseman a modern rank of #7,553.

What does the Horseman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who cared for or worked with horses.

What does the Horseman map show?

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