NameCensus.

UK surname

Lehman

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname referring to a person from Lehm, meaning "loam" or "clay" in German.

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Lehman surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Milton Keynes and South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lehman is 120 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.8%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2016

120 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Lehman had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 66 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Lehman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Lehman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Lehman 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 16 #30,441
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 53 #29,946
1901 historical 55 #28,064
1911 historical 41 #28,802
1997 modern 84 #29,106
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 94 #28,593
2000 modern 81 #30,036
2001 modern 81 #29,828
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 93 #29,133
2006 modern 88 #30,160
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 101 #29,445
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 110 #28,514
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Lehmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Milton Keynes, South Tyneside, Thanet and Basildon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 016 North East Lincolnshire
2 Milton Keynes 020 Milton Keynes
3 South Tyneside 016 South Tyneside
4 Thanet 017 Thanet
5 Basildon 003 Basildon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Lehman

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Lehman

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Lehman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Lehman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Lehman is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Lehman 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

Lehman 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 Lehman 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Lehman

The surname Lehman is of German origin, dating back to the late Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Saxony, where it was derived from the Middle High German words "lehen" meaning "fief" or "feudal estate," and "man" meaning "man" or "person." Thus, the name likely referred to a man who held or managed a feudal estate or fief on behalf of a lord or noble.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Lehman can be found in various medieval records and documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is a reference to a certain Henrich Lehman in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from the region of Saxony, dated around 1280.

Over the centuries, the name Lehman has undergone various spelling variations, such as Lehmann, Leeman, and Leaman, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. In some cases, the name may have also been associated with specific place names, such as Lehmannsdorf or Lehmenau, which were villages or towns where the name was particularly prevalent.

Among notable individuals who bore the surname Lehman throughout history are:

1. Johann Gottlob Lehmann (1719-1767), a German botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and nomenclature.

2. Lilli Lehmann (1848-1929), a renowned German operatic soprano who was particularly admired for her interpretations of the works of Richard Wagner.

3. Herbert H. Lehman (1878-1963), an American lawyer, politician, and businessman who served as the 45th Governor of New York from 1933 to 1942.

4. Inge Lehmann (1888-1993), a Danish seismologist and geophysicist who made groundbreaking discoveries about the Earth's inner core, leading to a better understanding of the planet's interior structure.

5. Liza Lehmann (1862-1918), an English singer, composer, and actress who was particularly known for her compositions of art songs and operettas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname Lehman has its roots in medieval Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration patterns over the past few centuries. However, its historical origins and significance can be traced back to the feudal system of medieval Europe, where it likely denoted an individual's role and status as a manager or steward of a landed estate.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Lehman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lehman 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. Middlesex leads with 32 Lehmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 4.97x
Surrey 8 2.55x
Lancashire 6 0.79x
Nottinghamshire 5 5.76x
Glamorgan 4 3.57x
Berkshire 2 4.14x
Yorkshire 2 0.31x
Gloucestershire 1 0.79x
Kent 1 0.46x
Leicestershire 1 1.40x
Lincolnshire 1 0.97x
Midlothian 1 1.16x
Westmorland 1 7.07x
Worcestershire 1 1.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East London in Middlesex leads with 10 Lehmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 165.29x.

Place Total Index
St George In East London 10 165.29x
Hampstead London 6 59.88x
Liverpool 6 12.94x
Nottingham St Mary 5 22.28x
Limehouse London 4 56.58x
Swansea Town 4 43.53x
Bermondsey 3 15.66x
Shadwell London 3 166.67x
Wandsworth 3 48.39x
Bethnal Green London 2 7.15x
Chiswick 2 56.82x
Kingston On Thames 2 26.56x
St Marylebone London 2 5.82x
Appleby St Michael 1 312.50x
Clifton 1 15.67x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 46.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 2.88x
Great Grimsby 1 15.31x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 196.08x
Leicester St Margaret 1 5.75x
Paddington London 1 4.23x
Radley 1 833.33x
Sandhurst 1 106.38x
Sculcoates 1 9.89x
St George Hanover Square 1 8.82x
Stoke Newington London 1 19.96x
Worcester College 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Annie 2
Augusta 2
Emma 2
Aga 1
Anne 1
Bella 1
Betty 1
Eliza 1
Georgeanna 1
Gertrude 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Johanna 1
Josephine 1
Marie 1
Marriane 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Olga 1
Pauline 1
Priscilla 1
Rosalia 1
Salome 1
Sarah 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
John 3
William 3
August 2
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Bernard 1
Conrad 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Gustave 1
H. 1
Henry 1
Herman 1
Hugo 1
Joseph 1
Leo 1
Ludwig 1
Mary 1
Rudolf 1
Solomon 1
Walter 1
Wilhelm 1

FAQ

Lehman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Lehman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Lehman surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Lehman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Lehman a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Lehman surname mean?

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) surname referring to a person from Lehm, meaning "loam" or "clay" in German.

What does the Lehman map show?

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