UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a person who sewed or mended with needles.
The strongest historical links point to Peak Forest, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and Barrow-on-Soar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Needleman is 101 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.
1881 census count
-
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1911
101 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Needleman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Needleman surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1861 | historical | 13 | #32,208 |
| 1891 | historical | 8 | #33,550 |
| 1901 | historical | 71 | #26,277 |
| 1911 | historical | 101 | #22,589 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 83 | #29,638 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 82 | #29,922 |
| 2001 | modern | 77 | #30,277 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 85 | #29,877 |
| 2004 | modern | 78 | #30,919 |
| 2005 | modern | 84 | #30,359 |
| 2006 | modern | 80 | #31,149 |
| 2007 | modern | 84 | #31,067 |
| 2008 | modern | 84 | #31,370 |
| 2009 | modern | 81 | #32,172 |
| 2010 | modern | 81 | #32,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 84 | #32,237 |
| 2012 | modern | 79 | #32,966 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 77 | #33,272 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Peak Forest, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Barrow-on-Soar, St James Westminster and Toxteth Park. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peak Forest | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Barrow-on-Soar | Leicestershire |
| 4 | St James Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Needleman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Needleman, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Needleman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Needleman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Needleman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Needleman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Needleman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Needleman is an occupational name that originated in England during the medieval period. It derives from the Old English words "nædl" meaning needle and "mann" meaning man, referring to a person who made or sold needles for a living.
The earliest known record of the name Needleman dates back to the late 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a Robert Neodelman was listed. It is likely that the name was already in use before this time, as occupational surnames began to emerge in England around the 11th century.
Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Nedelman, Nedilman, and Nedelmann, reflecting regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions at the time.
In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Needleman (c. 1520-1590), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, England. He is recorded in the Bristol Apprentice Books and played a role in the city's governance.
Another early Needleman of note was Richard Needleman (c. 1580-1650), who was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. He is mentioned in the company's records and likely worked in the textile trade.
Moving into the 17th century, we find Samuel Needleman (1625-1699), a prominent farmer and landowner in the village of Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire. His name appears in the parish records and he was a significant figure in the local community.
In the 18th century, the name appears in the form of William Needleman (1720-1792), a skilled carpenter and joiner who worked on various construction projects in the city of York. Records of his work can be found in the York City Archives.
Finally, in the 19th century, we have John Needleman (1845-1912), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Manchester. He made his fortune in the textile industry and donated generously to various charitable causes in the city.
These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the surname Needleman throughout history, demonstrating its origins as an occupational name and its presence across different regions of England over several centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
FAQ
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Needleman a modern rank of #33,377.
An occupational surname referring to a person who sewed or mended with needles.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Needleman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.