NameCensus.

UK surname

Inman

Derived from a place name meaning "inn man," referring to an innkeeper or one who lived near an inn.

In the 1881 census there were 2,038 people recorded with the Inman surname, ranking it #2,159 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,426, ranked #2,715, down from #2,159 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Bradford and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Inman is 2,739 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.0%.

1881 census count

2,038

Ranked #2,159

Modern count

2,426

2016, ranked #2,715

Peak year

1999

2,739 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Inman had 2,038 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,159 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,426 in 2016, ranked #2,715.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,593 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Inman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Inman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Inman 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 1,429 #2,010
1861 historical 1,163 #2,426
1881 historical 2,038 #2,159
1891 historical 2,171 #2,155
1901 historical 2,478 #2,204
1911 historical 2,593 #1,977
1997 modern 2,605 #2,439
1998 modern 2,685 #2,462
1999 modern 2,739 #2,438
2000 modern 2,733 #2,429
2001 modern 2,664 #2,433
2002 modern 2,691 #2,463
2003 modern 2,553 #2,516
2004 modern 2,552 #2,518
2005 modern 2,474 #2,560
2006 modern 2,479 #2,562
2007 modern 2,511 #2,558
2008 modern 2,530 #2,562
2009 modern 2,570 #2,582
2010 modern 2,569 #2,638
2011 modern 2,531 #2,642
2012 modern 2,440 #2,678
2013 modern 2,515 #2,649
2014 modern 2,527 #2,652
2015 modern 2,503 #2,649
2016 modern 2,426 #2,715

Geography

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Where Inmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Manchester, Bradford and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Bradford, Ryedale and Selby. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland
2 Bradford 004 Bradford
3 Ryedale 007 Ryedale
4 Selby 009 Selby
5 South Lakeland 007 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Inman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Inman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Inman, 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 Inman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Inman 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Inman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Inman is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Inman falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Inman 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 Inman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Inman

The surname Inman has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "inne" meaning "in" and "mann" meaning "man," effectively translating to "the inside man" or "the man within." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked within a particular establishment or manor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a Robert Inman. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 list a John Inman in Oxfordshire, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

The Inman surname is also closely linked to various place names, such as Inman Thorpe in Yorkshire, which was recorded as "Ingemantorp" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This connection implies that some Inmans may have derived their surname from the areas in which they resided.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Inman surname. One of the earliest was Sir Walter Inman (c. 1370-1440), a prominent merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1437. Another distinguished figure was Robert Inman (c. 1595-1672), an English Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious conflicts of the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Ralph Inman (1721-1788) was a wealthy English merchant and philanthropist who endowed several schools and charities in his hometown of Leeds. Later, Henry Inman (1801-1846) gained recognition as an American portrait painter, celebrated for his works depicting notable figures of his time.

One of the most famous Inmans was Walter Inman (1837-1909), a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British armed forces. His courageous actions during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 earned him this prestigious honor.

While the Inman surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, thanks to migration and exploration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Inman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Inman 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 1,045 Inmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.31x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,045 5.31x
Lancashire 266 1.13x
Middlesex 180 0.91x
Surrey 59 0.61x
Gloucestershire 47 1.21x
Warwickshire 46 0.92x
Durham 45 0.76x
Kent 45 0.66x
Lincolnshire 42 1.32x
Cheshire 31 0.71x
Westmorland 29 6.64x
Hampshire 28 0.69x
Sussex 25 0.75x
Nottinghamshire 24 0.90x
Essex 19 0.48x
Derbyshire 18 0.58x
Leicestershire 14 0.64x
Devon 11 0.27x
Cumberland 8 0.47x
Lanarkshire 8 0.12x
Dumfriesshire 7 1.59x
Somerset 7 0.22x
Wiltshire 6 0.34x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 1.74x
Staffordshire 4 0.06x
Glamorgan 3 0.09x
Norfolk 3 0.10x
Oxfordshire 3 0.24x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.11x
Worcestershire 2 0.08x
Channel Islands 1 0.17x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.42x
Suffolk 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 39 Inmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.22x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 39 6.22x
Dewsbury 37 18.32x
Horton In Bradford 36 11.71x
Keighley 32 15.25x
Bradford 29 6.08x
Wortley In Bramley 29 18.60x
Hunslet 24 7.82x
Leeds 23 2.07x
Aston 22 1.59x
Birmingham 21 1.26x
Embsay Cum Eastby 21 263.82x
Ecclesfield 20 13.85x
Newington 20 2.72x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 20 125.16x
St Luke London 20 6.28x
Huddersfield 19 6.62x
Silsden 19 327.02x
Garsdale 18 440.10x
Knaresborough 18 58.20x
Awre 17 211.71x
Bow London 17 6.72x
Gorton 17 7.67x
High Low Bishopside 17 97.31x
Methley 17 61.33x
Dawdon 16 22.01x
Gomersal 16 17.41x
Liverpool 16 1.12x
Bradfield 15 19.76x
Brightside Bierlow 15 3.88x
Sedburgh 15 182.93x
Bingley 14 11.16x
Denton 14 26.79x
Leicester St Margaret 14 2.61x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 13 19.31x
Castleton 13 5.52x
Pendleton In Salford 13 4.63x
St George Hanover Square 13 3.71x
Batley 12 6.41x
Everton 12 1.60x
Lewisham 12 3.32x
Lymington 12 40.09x
St Marylebone London 12 1.13x
Burnsall 11 1341.46x
Calverley Cum Farsley 11 19.67x
Chapel Allerton 11 37.33x
Dalton In Huddersfield 11 24.94x
Folkestone 11 8.36x
Hampstead London 11 3.55x
Hulme 11 2.23x
Manchester 11 1.04x
North South Anston 11 127.76x
Otley 11 23.01x
Shoreditch London 11 1.28x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 11 24.61x
Ulverston 11 16.02x
Woodsetts 11 658.68x
Laughton En Le Morthen 10 220.75x
Poplar London 10 2.67x
Wakefield 10 6.62x
Almondbury 9 9.45x
Ashford 9 13.63x
Barrow In Furness 9 2.81x
Boldre 9 61.69x
Hipperholme Cum 9 10.40x
Islington London 9 0.47x
Kimberworth 9 8.24x
Liversedge 9 10.27x
Lockwood 9 12.70x
Skipton 9 14.53x
Thornaby 9 12.23x
Worsley 9 6.19x
Aston Cum Aughton 8 49.66x
Bristol St John Baptist 8 221.61x
Cheetham 8 4.55x
Hackney London 8 0.72x
Linthwaite 8 19.33x
Rutherglen 8 8.49x
Stockton On Tees 8 2.81x
West Derby 8 1.16x
Wombwell 8 13.93x

FAQ

Inman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Inman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,038 people were recorded with the Inman surname. That placed it at #2,159 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Inman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,426 in 2016. That gives Inman a modern rank of #2,715.

What does the Inman surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "inn man," referring to an innkeeper or one who lived near an inn.

What does the Inman map show?

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