NameCensus.

UK surname

Kelman

A variant of the Scottish surname referring to someone from the lands of Kelmuir.

In the 1881 census there were 536 people recorded with the Kelman surname, ranking it #6,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,041, ranked #5,601, up from #6,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Deer, Old Deer and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newmachar and Fintray, Ythsie and Badenoch and Strathspey North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kelman is 1,043 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.2%.

1881 census count

536

Ranked #6,420

Modern count

1,041

2016, ranked #5,601

Peak year

2014

1,043 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kelman had 536 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,041 in 2016, ranked #5,601.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 676 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Kelman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kelman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kelman 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 370 #6,426
1861 historical 425 #6,043
1881 historical 536 #6,420
1891 historical 607 #6,324
1901 historical 676 #6,450
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 965 #5,649
1998 modern 1,007 #5,642
1999 modern 982 #5,796
2000 modern 977 #5,803
2001 modern 963 #5,762
2002 modern 987 #5,763
2003 modern 957 #5,802
2004 modern 966 #5,758
2005 modern 967 #5,685
2006 modern 956 #5,760
2007 modern 967 #5,766
2008 modern 981 #5,739
2009 modern 1,015 #5,695
2010 modern 1,034 #5,718
2011 modern 1,013 #5,756
2012 modern 993 #5,768
2013 modern 1,025 #5,712
2014 modern 1,043 #5,664
2015 modern 1,037 #5,643
2016 modern 1,041 #5,601

Geography

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Where Kelmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Deer, Old Deer, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Monquitter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newmachar and Fintray, Ythsie, Badenoch and Strathspey North, Dyce and Clashindarroch. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Deer Aberdeen
2 Old Deer Aberdeen
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Monquitter Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newmachar and Fintray Aberdeenshire
2 Ythsie Aberdeenshire
3 Badenoch and Strathspey North Highland
4 Dyce Aberdeen City
5 Clashindarroch Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kelman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kelman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kelman, 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 Kelman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Kelman 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Kelman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kelman is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kelman

The surname Kelman has its origins in Scotland and is derived from the Gaelic personal name Colman. Colman is believed to have originated from the Old Irish word 'colm', meaning 'dove'. The name was initially used as a personal name and later became a hereditary surname.

The earliest recorded instances of the Kelman surname can be traced back to the 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Colman, son of Gillespic, who was mentioned in the Cartulary of Cambuskenneth in 1200.

The Kelman surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire in the west of Scotland. Records suggest that the name was also found in the areas of Edinburgh, East Lothian, and the Scottish Borders.

A notable early reference to the Kelman name can be found in the Ragman Rolls, which were a series of homage rolls compiled during the reign of King Edward I of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. The Ragman Rolls contain the names of several individuals bearing the Kelman surname, including Adam Kelman, who swore fealty to the English king in 1296.

One of the earliest recorded Kelmans was Sir John Kelman (c. 1330-1390), a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert II during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Another notable Kelman was Andrew Kelman (1555-1637), a Scottish clergyman and author who served as the minister of the parish of Turriff in Aberdeenshire.

Other notable individuals with the Kelman surname include:

1. John Kelman (1653-1723), a Scottish merchant and landowner from Edinburgh. 2. Susanna Kelman (1795-1870), a Scottish writer and poet from Ayrshire. 3. James Kelman (1946-), a Scottish novelist and playwright, best known for his novel 'How Late It Was, How Late' which won the Booker Prize in 1994. 4. Patrick Kelman (1957-), a Scottish actor and writer, known for his roles in films like 'Trainspotting' and 'Braveheart'. 5. Howard Kelman (1921-2019), an American psychologist and academic, recognized for his work in conflict resolution and peace studies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kelman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kelman 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 325 Kelmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.75x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 325 67.75x
Banffshire 68 63.29x
Angus 28 5.84x
Midlothian 24 3.46x
Morayshire 21 26.09x
Perthshire 9 3.87x
Fife 8 2.61x
Lanarkshire 8 0.48x
Middlesex 8 0.15x
Ross-shire 7 4.92x
Kincardineshire 5 7.93x
Dunbartonshire 3 2.16x
Lancashire 3 0.05x
Stirlingshire 3 1.57x
Derbyshire 2 0.25x
Durham 2 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 0.65x
Devon 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.29x
Essex 1 0.10x
Inverness-shire 1 0.65x
Kent 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Peterhead in Aberdeenshire leads with 43 Kelmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.49x.

Place Total Index
Peterhead 43 169.49x
Aberdeen Old Machar 41 40.94x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 40 44.57x
Monquhitter 19 382.29x
Dundee 17 9.49x
Mortlach 15 285.71x
New Deer 14 161.29x
Tyrie 14 232.56x
Fraserburgh 13 96.30x
Rhynie 13 650.00x
Belhelvie 12 365.85x
Keith 12 104.80x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 3.94x
Marnoch 11 190.64x
Culsalmond 9 608.11x
Edinburgh St Marys 9 66.72x
Aberdour 8 211.64x
Gamrie 8 66.72x
Old Deer 8 88.01x
Rathven 8 39.64x
Auchterless 7 183.73x
Edinkillie 7 333.33x
Ellon 7 106.06x
Kirkcaldy 7 46.02x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 7 281.12x
Towie 7 518.52x
Turriff 7 90.44x
Fearn 6 158.31x
Logie Buchan 6 437.96x
Moulin 6 163.49x
Premnay 6 363.64x
Edzell 5 340.14x
Rayne 5 219.30x
St Fergus 5 184.50x
Longside 4 69.81x
Skene 4 125.79x
South Leith 4 5.12x
Tarves 4 88.11x
Towerof London London 4 242.42x
Banff 3 32.15x
Clatt 3 375.00x
Crieff 3 34.68x
Falkirk 3 6.71x
Fordyce 3 38.81x
Inverurie 3 55.25x
Kirkintilloch 3 15.86x
Nigg 3 57.47x
Pitsligo 3 65.50x
Shettleston 3 20.00x
Strichen 3 71.94x
Auchindoir Kearn 2 74.35x
Barony 2 0.47x
Bellie 2 54.95x
Duffus 2 28.21x
Huntly 2 25.64x
Inverkeillor 2 67.11x
Islington London 2 0.40x
Lonmay 2 45.98x
New Machar 2 74.35x
Newhills 2 20.37x
Ockbrook 2 58.14x
Oyne 2 116.96x
Aberlour 1 29.33x
Banchory Devenick 1 16.98x
Bishopwearmouth 1 0.76x
Boharm 1 47.39x
Cabrach 1 82.64x
Cairney 1 35.84x
Crimond 1 67.57x
Cruden 1 16.18x
Dyke 1 45.45x
Fetteresso 1 10.12x
Fintray 1 54.64x
Insch 1 36.63x
Kirkmichael 1 52.36x
Laggan 1 61.35x
Lochee 1 23.36x
Montrose 1 3.44x
Ordiquhill 1 78.74x
Seaton 1 24.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Adelina 1
Agnass 1
Alice 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
Alexander 1
Frances 1
Frederick 1
John 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Kelman households.

FAQ

Kelman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kelman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 536 people were recorded with the Kelman surname. That placed it at #6,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kelman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,041 in 2016. That gives Kelman a modern rank of #5,601.

What does the Kelman surname mean?

A variant of the Scottish surname referring to someone from the lands of Kelmuir.

What does the Kelman map show?

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