NameCensus.

UK surname

Nyman

An occupational surname referring to a new man, such as a newcomer to a village or town.

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Nyman surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 291, ranked #15,062, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Hillingdon and Southend-on-Sea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nyman is 313 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 708.3%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

291

2016, ranked #15,062

Peak year

2010

313 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nyman had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 291 in 2016, ranked #15,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 165 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Nyman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nyman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nyman 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 17 #31,714
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 33 #31,681
1901 historical 118 #20,721
1911 historical 165 #16,808
1997 modern 294 #13,707
1998 modern 311 #13,550
1999 modern 306 #13,782
2000 modern 312 #13,561
2001 modern 307 #13,539
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 293 #14,037
2004 modern 306 #13,720
2005 modern 300 #13,837
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 295 #14,198
2008 modern 310 #13,834
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 313 #14,289
2011 modern 289 #14,974
2012 modern 289 #14,875
2013 modern 295 #14,918
2014 modern 298 #14,911
2015 modern 300 #14,758
2016 modern 291 #15,062

Geography

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Where Nymans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, Halifax, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and St George the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Hillingdon, Southend-on-Sea and Sutton. 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 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
5 St George the Martyr London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 033 Barnet
2 Hillingdon 001 Hillingdon
3 Southend-on-Sea 012 Southend-on-Sea
4 Sutton 016 Sutton
5 Barnet 034 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nyman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nyman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Nyman, 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 Nyman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Nyman 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Nyman 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

Nyman 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

Nyman falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nyman

The surname NYMAN originates from Sweden and dates back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old Norse word "ny," meaning new, and "man," meaning man or person. The name likely referred to a newcomer or someone who had recently arrived in an area.

NYMAN was initially found in the regions of Småland and Östergötland in southern Sweden. Early variations of the spelling included Nyman, Nijman, and Nieman. The name is believed to have emerged as a distinguishing moniker for individuals during the introduction of hereditary surnames in Scandinavia.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the NYMAN surname can be found in the church records of Västra Eneby Parish in Östergötland, dating back to 1580. Here, a man named Anders Nyman was listed as a resident.

In the 17th century, the NYMAN name appeared in various Swedish historical documents, including tax records and land registries. During this period, the surname was predominantly concentrated in the provinces of Småland and Östergötland, but it gradually spread to other parts of Sweden as people migrated.

Notable individuals with the NYMAN surname throughout history include:

1. Johan August Nyman (1792-1857), a Swedish politician and member of the Riksdag. 2. Carl Fredrik Nyman (1820-1893), a Swedish botanist and taxonomist known for his work on plant classification. 3. Elsa Nyman (1886-1972), a Swedish actress and singer who performed on stage and in early Swedish films. 4. Alvar Nyman (1909-1976), a Finnish architect and designer renowned for his modernist furniture designs. 5. Michael Nyman (born 1944), a British composer and pianist known for his minimalist and experimental music scores for films.

While the NYMAN surname has its roots in Sweden, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. Variations of the name can be found in countries with significant Swedish populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nyman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nyman 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 30 Nymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 8.54x
Bedfordshire 3 16.50x
Kent 1 0.83x
Norfolk 1 1.85x
Surrey 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End New Town in Middlesex leads with 17 Nymans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3541.67x.

Place Total Index
Mile End New Town 17 3541.67x
Clerkenwell London 9 108.56x
Whitechapel London 4 115.61x
Colmworth 3 6000.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 61.73x
Lambeth 1 3.27x
Margate St John Baptist 1 45.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Leah 3
Annie 2
Hannah 2
Elizabeth 1
Fanny 1
Janie 1
Jessie 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1
Pauline 1
S. 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jacob 2
A. 1
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Barnett 1
Goodman 1
Gustaf 1
H. 1
Harris 1
Henry 1
Isaac 1
Issac 1
James 1
Marks 1
Naty 1
Phillip 1
Simon 1
Soloman 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 Nyman households.

FAQ

Nyman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nyman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Nyman surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nyman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 291 in 2016. That gives Nyman a modern rank of #15,062.

What does the Nyman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a new man, such as a newcomer to a village or town.

What does the Nyman map show?

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