NameCensus.

UK surname

Jerman

A surname likely derived from a place name related to Germany or having German origins.

In the 1881 census there were 449 people recorded with the Jerman surname, ranking it #7,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 342, ranked #13,398, down from #7,335 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Paignton and Tref-Eglwys. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jerman is 509 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.8%.

1881 census count

449

Ranked #7,335

Modern count

342

2016, ranked #13,398

Peak year

1891

509 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Jerman had 449 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,335 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016, ranked #13,398.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 509 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Jerman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Jerman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Jerman 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 387 #6,204
1861 historical 343 #7,444
1881 historical 449 #7,335
1891 historical 509 #7,323
1901 historical 495 #8,111
1911 historical 408 #9,161
1997 modern 357 #11,998
1998 modern 376 #11,918
1999 modern 384 #11,800
2000 modern 397 #11,463
2001 modern 409 #11,032
2002 modern 419 #11,059
2003 modern 396 #11,346
2004 modern 399 #11,297
2005 modern 394 #11,308
2006 modern 391 #11,432
2007 modern 381 #11,798
2008 modern 379 #11,960
2009 modern 373 #12,364
2010 modern 376 #12,548
2011 modern 364 #12,713
2012 modern 345 #13,093
2013 modern 346 #13,291
2014 modern 345 #13,396
2015 modern 347 #13,252
2016 modern 342 #13,398

Geography

Back to top

Where Jermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Paignton, Tref-Eglwys, London parishes and Llanidloes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys and Waveney. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Paignton Devon
3 Tref-Eglwys Montgomeryshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Llanidloes Montgomeryshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 010 Powys
2 Powys 007 Powys
3 Powys 006 Powys
4 Powys 005 Powys
5 Waveney 014 Waveney

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Jerman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Jerman

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Jerman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Jerman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Jerman 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

Jerman is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Jerman 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 Jerman 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 Jerman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Jerman

The surname JERMAN has its origins in Germany, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word "german," meaning "a person from Germany." The name was initially used as an ethnic descriptor to distinguish individuals of German descent from those of other nationalities.

The name JERMAN first appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Germanus." This early spelling variation reflects the influence of Latin on the name's evolution.

In the 13th century, the name JERMAN began to be used as a surname, particularly in the regions of present-day Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. Several notable historical figures bore this surname, including Johann JERMAN (1485-1538), a German theologian and Reformer, and Hans JERMAN (1560-1623), a renowned German painter and engraver.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, as migration patterns increased, the surname JERMAN spread across Europe, with variations in spelling emerging in different regions. In England, for instance, the name was often recorded as "Jermyn" or "Jermain," reflecting the influence of the local dialect and pronunciation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name JERMAN in England can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, where a certain Thomas JERMAN was baptized in 1612. Another notable figure was Henry JERMYN (1636-1708), a prominent English statesman and courtier during the reign of King Charles II.

As the JERMAN name continued to disperse throughout Europe and beyond, it became associated with various place names and locations. For example, in France, the name JERMAN was linked to the village of Germain-en-Laye, while in the Netherlands, it was connected to the town of Germaan.

Other notable individuals with the surname JERMAN include Johann JERMAN (1735-1810), a German philosopher and mathematician, and Friedrich JERMAN (1816-1891), a German industrialist and the founder of the Jerman Manufacturing Company.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Jerman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jerman 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. Montgomeryshire leads with 243 Jermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 242.13x.

County Total Index
Montgomeryshire 243 242.13x
Devon 65 7.13x
Glamorgan 19 2.49x
Essex 15 1.74x
Middlesex 14 0.32x
Suffolk 10 1.87x
Anglesey 8 10.31x
Cambridgeshire 7 2.52x
Staffordshire 7 0.47x
Kent 6 0.40x
Somerset 6 0.85x
Surrey 6 0.28x
Denbighshire 5 3.02x
Lancashire 5 0.10x
Hampshire 4 0.45x
Monmouthshire 4 1.26x
Cornwall 3 0.61x
Lincolnshire 3 0.43x
Radnorshire 3 8.49x
Warwickshire 3 0.27x
Yorkshire 3 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.13x
Cardiganshire 1 0.94x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.03x
Durham 1 0.08x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.15x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Shropshire 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanidloes in Montgomeryshire leads with 130 Jermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1747.31x.

Place Total Index
Llanidloes 130 1747.31x
Llandinam 34 1465.52x
Llangurig 32 1327.80x
Tref Eglwys 21 766.42x
Paignton 18 259.37x
Llanbrynmair 14 590.72x
Barnstaple 10 69.88x
West Ham 10 5.24x
Kerry 9 298.01x
Exeter St David 8 102.70x
Exeter St Olave 8 677.97x
Llechylched 8 930.23x
St Pancras London 8 2.27x
Ystradyfodwg 8 11.96x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 33.52x
Littleport 7 132.08x
Bermondsey 6 4.60x
Greenwich 6 8.61x
Llanguick 6 43.92x
Plymouth Charles The 6 14.94x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 27.62x
Porlock 5 434.78x
Wolverhampton 5 4.40x
Wrexham Abbot 5 120.19x
Bedwellty 4 7.16x
Harwich St Nicholas 4 59.88x
Kirkdale 4 4.58x
Aston 3 0.99x
Falmouth 3 17.09x
Ipswich St Helen 3 47.47x
Islington London 3 0.71x
Rhyndwyclydach 3 56.71x
St Harmon Clas 3 535.71x
Axmouth 2 196.08x
Barkstone 2 266.67x
Dalham 2 317.46x
Llanllyfni 2 23.92x
Newton Valence 2 363.64x
Southcoates 2 8.30x
Tregynon 2 188.68x
Abbots Bromley 1 45.66x
Aberystwith 1 10.87x
Annan 1 12.03x
Bedminster 1 1.51x
Brotton 1 17.67x
Broughton 1 227.27x
Cardiff St Mary 1 2.38x
Catherington 1 50.51x
Exeter St Kerrian 1 156.25x
Gelligaer 1 5.74x
Great Baddow 1 32.57x
Great Grimsby 1 2.25x
Hackney London 1 0.41x
Hove 1 3.09x
Hulme 1 0.92x
Llanwrin 1 98.04x
Macclesfield 1 2.33x
Norwich St George Colegate 1 40.82x
Old Artillery Ground 1 26.53x
Oswestry Town 1 8.25x
Paddington London 1 0.62x
Pelton 1 16.13x
Pipe Hill 1 384.62x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.42x
Plympton Maurice 1 58.14x
Portsea 1 0.57x
Tiverton 1 6.37x
Tormoham 1 2.59x
Wolborough 1 8.68x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 29
Thomas 23
Edward 19
David 14
Richard 12
Daniel 11
James 10
Henry 7
Hugh 5
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Evan 3
Lewis 3
Arthur 2
Edwd. 2
Joseph 2
Alfred 1
Amyas 1
Angelo 1
Archabol 1
Cillbery 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
J.Henry 1
Jno.M. 1
Lavahann 1
Llywelyn 1
Maurice 1
Oliver 1
Rees 1
Richd. 1
Richd.Henry 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wilson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Jerman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Jerman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 449 people were recorded with the Jerman surname. That placed it at #7,335 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Jerman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 342 in 2016. That gives Jerman a modern rank of #13,398.

What does the Jerman surname mean?

A surname likely derived from a place name related to Germany or having German origins.

What does the Jerman map show?

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