NameCensus.

UK surname

Notman

An English surname derived from the phrase "not man", possibly referring to an illegitimate child or outsider.

In the 1881 census there were 508 people recorded with the Notman surname, ranking it #6,704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 902, ranked #6,292, up from #6,704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Carlisle St Cuthbert and Hawick and Wilton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hawick Central, Carlisle and Tweeddale East Area.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Notman is 920 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.6%.

1881 census count

508

Ranked #6,704

Modern count

902

2016, ranked #6,292

Peak year

2014

920 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Notman had 508 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 902 in 2016, ranked #6,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 688 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Notman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Notman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Notman 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 344 #6,842
1861 historical 389 #6,580
1881 historical 508 #6,704
1891 historical 587 #6,508
1901 historical 688 #6,370
1911 historical 317 #11,011
1997 modern 815 #6,441
1998 modern 851 #6,432
1999 modern 876 #6,336
2000 modern 879 #6,283
2001 modern 861 #6,273
2002 modern 885 #6,262
2003 modern 856 #6,318
2004 modern 847 #6,368
2005 modern 865 #6,220
2006 modern 881 #6,132
2007 modern 868 #6,274
2008 modern 871 #6,288
2009 modern 884 #6,356
2010 modern 899 #6,389
2011 modern 891 #6,364
2012 modern 880 #6,349
2013 modern 901 #6,336
2014 modern 920 #6,274
2015 modern 910 #6,282
2016 modern 902 #6,292

Geography

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Where Notmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Hawick and Wilton, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hawick Central, Carlisle, Tweeddale East Area and Lochmaben. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
3 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
2 Carlisle 010 Carlisle
3 Carlisle 007 Carlisle
4 Tweeddale East Area Scottish Borders
5 Lochmaben Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Notman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Notman

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Notman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Notman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Notman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Notman is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Notman falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Notman 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 Notman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Notman

The surname NOTMAN is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known recordings dating back to the late 12th century. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Old English words "noht" meaning "not" and "man," referring to a person who was not considered a full member of society, perhaps a servant or someone of lower social status.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname NOTMAN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1190, which mention a person named Adam Noteman. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 also include an entry for a Walter Noteman.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various forms such as Noteman, Notteman, and Nootman, reflecting regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. It is possible that some of these variations arose from the Old English word "nāhting," meaning "nothing" or "nobody," further reinforcing the idea of the name's association with a person of low social standing.

In the 16th century, the NOTMAN surname was found in several historical records, including the Register of the University of Oxford from 1572, which mentions a John Notman. Around the same time, a Thomas Notman was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1593.

Notable individuals bearing the NOTMAN surname throughout history include:

1. William Notman (1826-1891), a renowned Canadian photographer who established the Notman Photographic Archives, one of the most significant collections of historical photographs in North America.

2. John Notman (1810-1865), an American architect known for his work on several notable buildings in Philadelphia, including the Second Bank of the United States and St. Mark's Church.

3. George Notman (1797-1865), a British engineer and architect who designed several significant buildings in London, such as the King's College Hospital and the Royal Panopticon of Science and Art.

4. Robert Notman (1840-1914), a Scottish architect who designed several prominent buildings in Glasgow, including the Glasgow City Chambers and the St. Andrew's Halls.

5. John Notman (1768-1826), an English clergyman and author who wrote a treatise titled "A Grammar of the Idioms of the Greek Language."

While the NOTMAN surname may have originated from a term denoting a lower social status, it has since been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, architects, engineers, and scholars, who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Notman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Notman 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. Midlothian leads with 134 Notmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.76x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 134 20.76x
Lanarkshire 90 5.77x
Roxburghshire 39 44.68x
Dumfriesshire 27 25.36x
Middlesex 26 0.54x
Stirlingshire 26 14.63x
Cumberland 22 5.30x
Surrey 16 0.68x
Renfrewshire 12 3.21x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 14.33x
Durham 9 0.63x
Aberdeenshire 8 1.79x
Lancashire 8 0.14x
Sussex 8 0.98x
Northumberland 7 0.98x
East Lothian 6 9.40x
West Lothian 6 8.27x
Essex 5 0.53x
Ross-shire 5 3.78x
Selkirkshire 5 11.47x
Somerset 5 0.64x
Ayrshire 3 0.83x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.46x
Peeblesshire 3 13.23x
Argyllshire 2 1.49x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Banffshire 1 1.00x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.51x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.77x
Fife 1 0.35x
Nairnshire 1 6.80x
Oxfordshire 1 0.34x
Royal Navy 1 1.74x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 56 Notmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.56x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 56 21.56x
Bothwell 36 85.19x
Glasgow 23 8.31x
Liberton 21 210.84x
Falkirk 19 45.67x
Govan 19 4.93x
South Leith 18 24.78x
Wilton 15 156.58x
Hawick 13 66.53x
Dornock 11 814.81x
St Cuthbert W O 10 49.46x
Colinton 9 125.00x
Newington 9 5.06x
Poplar London 9 9.90x
Crichton 8 444.44x
Islington London 8 1.71x
Keymer 8 139.37x
Makerston 8 1269.84x
Annan 7 76.59x
Dryfesdale 7 142.57x
Larbert 7 65.91x
St Cuthbert Within 7 145.53x
Urr 7 77.18x
Westgate 7 15.77x
Kirkliston 6 141.84x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 5.37x
Borthwick 5 173.61x
Galashiels 5 31.02x
Gateshead 5 4.66x
Lochs 5 47.44x
Paisley Middle Church 5 23.00x
Shoreditch London 5 2.39x
Stow 5 150.60x
Wellington 5 47.53x
West Ham 5 2.38x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 4 89.49x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 3.59x
Barony 3 0.76x
Edinburgh St Andrews 3 56.29x
Newbattle 3 54.35x
Paisley Low Church 3 25.38x
Richmond 3 9.12x
Shotts 3 16.09x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.09x
Tongland 3 218.98x
Toxteth Park 3 1.55x
West Greenock 3 4.48x
Westoe 3 3.69x
Wetheral 3 54.64x
Ayr 2 11.75x
Dalserf 2 12.86x
Dunbar 2 22.35x
Dunoon Kilmun 2 19.12x
Hampstead London 2 2.66x
Hulme 2 1.68x
Limehouse London 2 3.78x
Middlesbrough 2 3.22x
Old Monkland 2 3.23x
Peebles 2 29.85x
Salford 2 1.19x
Tranent 2 23.20x
Ashkirk 1 121.95x
Basford 1 3.34x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 7.97x
Fordyce 1 13.91x
Hamilton 1 2.30x
Hoddam 1 39.06x
Hucknall Torkard 1 6.07x
Kilmalcolm 1 22.32x
Kirkdale 1 1.04x
Kirkton 1 181.82x
Middlebie 1 31.35x
Ormiston 1 59.17x
Prestonpans 1 23.36x
Rickergate 1 11.39x
Row 1 5.97x
St Boswells 1 63.29x
Symington 1 86.21x
Tillicoultry 1 11.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 6
Jane 5
Louisa 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Marion 2
Amy 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Let. 1
Lottie 1
Lydwig 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Polly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
George 7
William 6
James 4
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Alexander 2
Charles 2
Frank 2
Alfred 1
Chas.M. 1
Chas.N. 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Emanuel 1
Horace 1
Micael 1
Nathan 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Notman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Notman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 508 people were recorded with the Notman surname. That placed it at #6,704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Notman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 902 in 2016. That gives Notman a modern rank of #6,292.

What does the Notman surname mean?

An English surname derived from the phrase "not man", possibly referring to an illegitimate child or outsider.

What does the Notman map show?

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