NameCensus.

UK surname

Kerman

A surname referring to someone from Kerman, a city in Iran.

In the 1881 census there were 121 people recorded with the Kerman surname, ranking it #17,671 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 208, ranked #19,062, down from #17,671 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Birmingham and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kerman is 292 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.9%.

1881 census count

121

Ranked #17,671

Modern count

208

2016, ranked #19,062

Peak year

1891

292 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kerman had 121 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,671 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 208 in 2016, ranked #19,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 292 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Kerman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kerman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kerman 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 125 #14,700
1861 historical 189 #12,570
1881 historical 121 #17,671
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 229 #13,894
1911 historical 252 #12,834
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 211 #17,532
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 208 #17,513
2002 modern 216 #17,447
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 222 #17,020
2005 modern 212 #17,473
2006 modern 219 #17,254
2007 modern 222 #17,288
2008 modern 222 #17,442
2009 modern 216 #18,120
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 210 #18,604
2013 modern 209 #18,984
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 208 #19,062

Geography

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Where Kermans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Cardiff St John and St Mary, Liverpool and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Birmingham, Bradford and Kingston upon Hull. 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 1
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 019 Westminster
2 Birmingham 046 Birmingham
3 Bradford 023 Bradford
4 Kingston upon Hull 021 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Kingston upon Hull 023 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kerman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kerman

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Kerman is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kerman is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kerman

The surname Kerman is believed to have originated in Iran, specifically in the city of Kerman, which is located in the southeastern part of the country. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, between the 5th and 15th centuries.

Kerman is an ancient city with a rich history dating back to the Sassanid era (224-651 AD). The city's name is derived from the Middle Persian word "Kārman," which means "a place of deserts." This suggests that the surname Kerman may have initially been used to identify individuals who hailed from this arid region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kerman can be found in the "Tarikh-e-Qom," a historical text written by Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Qumi in the 10th century. The book mentions a notable figure named Ahmad ibn Abi Nasr Kerman, indicating the presence of the surname during that time.

In the 11th century, a renowned Iranian poet and scholar, Anvari Abivardi (1126-1189), was also referred to as "Anvari Kerman" due to his association with the city of Kerman. His literary works, such as the famous "Kharidat al-Qasr," have survived to this day and showcase the cultural significance of the region.

Another notable individual with the surname Kerman was Sheikh Sadruddin Kerman (1180-1242), a prominent Persian philosopher and mystic. He was born in Kerman and is known for his contributions to the fields of theology, logic, and Sufism.

During the Safavid Dynasty (1501-1736), a notable figure named Mohammad Khan Kerman (1568-1640) played a crucial role in the empire's military affairs. He served as a commander and governor in various regions, including Fars and Khorasan.

In the 19th century, Mirza Ali Akbar Khan Kerman (1846-1909) was a prominent Iranian politician and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Iran from 1896 to 1898. He was also involved in the constitutional revolution of 1906 and advocated for reforms in the country.

While the surname Kerman has its roots in Iran, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and travel. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient city of Kerman, where it emerged as a means of identifying individuals from that region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kerman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kerman 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. Lincolnshire leads with 55 Kermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.15x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 55 29.15x
Middlesex 17 1.44x
Yorkshire 14 1.20x
Hampshire 10 4.13x
Glamorgan 7 3.41x
Lancashire 6 0.43x
Kent 4 0.99x
Wiltshire 3 2.87x
Surrey 2 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.63x
Shropshire 1 0.98x
Somerset 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clee With Weelsby in Lincolnshire leads with 11 Kermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 266.34x.

Place Total Index
Clee With Weelsby 11 266.34x
Islington London 10 8.74x
Millbrook 10 164.20x
Boston 9 157.07x
Great Grimsby 8 66.78x
Cardiff St Mary 7 61.84x
Sheffield 5 13.43x
Southcoates 5 77.04x
Skegness 4 740.74x
Skirbeck Quarter 4 1142.86x
Addlethorpe 3 3000.00x
Chelsea London 3 8.44x
Fishtoft 3 810.81x
Gainsborough 3 67.42x
Liverpool 3 3.53x
Milford 3 535.71x
West Derby 3 7.32x
Bennington By Boston 2 909.09x
Chatham 2 18.05x
Paddington London 2 4.61x
Winterton 2 307.69x
Aubourn 1 1111.11x
Drypool 1 55.87x
Frampton 1 277.78x
Holy Trinity 1 3.55x
Horncastle 1 51.28x
Kingston On Thames 1 7.24x
Lee 1 17.09x
Louth 1 23.15x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.43x
Sculcoates 1 5.39x
Shawbury 1 256.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 4.21x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.81x
St Giles In Fields London 1 17.27x
Sutton 1 75.19x
Walcot 1 9.88x
Wickenby 1 909.09x
Winthorpe 1 714.29x
Wrotham 1 75.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 6
Mary 5
Ann 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Elizabeth 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Amy 1
Clara 1
E.J. 1
E.M. 1
Edna 1
Eliz. 1
Eth. 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Jennet 1
Katy 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Naomi 1
Nelley 1
Rebecca 1
Septima 1
Sevile 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 8
George 6
Charles 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Dymo 1
Felix 1
J.H.H. 1
Jabez 1
Leuis 1
Michael 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Kerman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kerman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 121 people were recorded with the Kerman surname. That placed it at #17,671 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kerman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 208 in 2016. That gives Kerman a modern rank of #19,062.

What does the Kerman surname mean?

A surname referring to someone from Kerman, a city in Iran.

What does the Kerman map show?

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