NameCensus.

UK surname

Oldman

An occupational surname referring to an elderly or aged man.

In the 1881 census there were 413 people recorded with the Oldman surname, ranking it #7,794 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 516, ranked #9,778, down from #7,794 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby) and Blundeston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oldman is 588 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.9%.

1881 census count

413

Ranked #7,794

Modern count

516

2016, ranked #9,778

Peak year

1998

588 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oldman had 413 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,794 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016, ranked #9,778.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 549 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Oldman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oldman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oldman 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 283 #7,996
1861 historical 392 #6,536
1881 historical 413 #7,794
1891 historical 445 #8,134
1901 historical 519 #7,831
1911 historical 549 #7,300
1997 modern 574 #8,398
1998 modern 588 #8,510
1999 modern 587 #8,569
2000 modern 574 #8,662
2001 modern 578 #8,506
2002 modern 585 #8,589
2003 modern 571 #8,609
2004 modern 564 #8,709
2005 modern 536 #8,968
2006 modern 529 #9,084
2007 modern 531 #9,131
2008 modern 527 #9,259
2009 modern 529 #9,442
2010 modern 535 #9,571
2011 modern 516 #9,731
2012 modern 499 #9,870
2013 modern 516 #9,783
2014 modern 528 #9,701
2015 modern 528 #9,633
2016 modern 516 #9,778

Geography

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Where Oldmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby), Blundeston, Carlton Colville and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney. 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 3
2 West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby) Lincolnshire
3 Blundeston Suffolk
4 Carlton Colville Suffolk
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 003 Waveney
2 Waveney 005 Waveney
3 Waveney 012 Waveney
4 Waveney 002 Waveney
5 Waveney 009 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oldman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oldman

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Oldman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Oldman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Oldman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oldman 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

Oldman falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Oldman

The surname Oldman is of English origin, tracing back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from a place name that no longer exists, believed to have been situated in either Gloucestershire or Worcestershire. The name likely referred to an elderly man or someone who lived near an old man's dwelling.

Early records show variations in the spelling, such as Oldeman, Oldman, and Ouldman. One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a Robert Oldeman is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the Oldman surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, where a John Oldeman is listed. The name also appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1310, referring to a Robert Oldman.

The Oldman surname has a notable presence in the historical records of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, indicating that these regions might have been the original homelands of those bearing this name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Oldman surname is William Oldman, who was born in Gloucestershire around 1490. Another notable figure from the 16th century is John Oldman, a merchant from Bristol, born in 1520.

In the 17th century, a prominent Oldman was Robert Oldman, a landowner and magistrate from Worcestershire, born in 1625. He played a significant role in local affairs during the English Civil War.

The 18th century saw the birth of Thomas Oldman (1735-1808), a noted author and historian from Gloucestershire, who wrote extensively on the history of his county.

In the 19th century, a prominent figure was Sir Richard Oldman (1850-1932), a British industrialist and philanthropist from Worcestershire, who made significant contributions to the development of the region's industry and education.

Throughout history, the Oldman surname has been associated with various regions of England, particularly the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, where it has its roots. The name has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including landowners, merchants, authors, and industrialists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oldman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oldman 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. Norfolk leads with 86 Oldmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.92x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 86 13.92x
Middlesex 59 1.47x
Suffolk 55 11.24x
Aberdeenshire 44 11.82x
Lincolnshire 24 3.73x
Kent 21 1.53x
Surrey 21 1.07x
Lancashire 16 0.34x
Cumberland 11 3.18x
Yorkshire 10 0.25x
Angus 7 1.88x
Durham 7 0.59x
Essex 7 0.88x
Cheshire 6 0.68x
Monmouthshire 6 2.07x
Derbyshire 5 0.79x
Warwickshire 5 0.49x
Lanarkshire 4 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.79x
Herefordshire 2 1.21x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.37x
Somerset 2 0.31x
Sussex 2 0.30x
Bedfordshire 1 0.48x
Berkshire 1 0.33x
Cornwall 1 0.22x
Devon 1 0.12x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.25x
Northumberland 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 21 Oldmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.03x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 21 12.03x
Thetford St Peter 21 1288.34x
Peterhead 18 91.46x
Deptford St Paul 17 16.07x
Oulton 15 909.09x
Somerleyton 15 1829.27x
Monquhitter 10 259.74x
Bintree 9 1428.57x
Great Yarmouth 9 17.58x
Newton Flotman 9 2250.00x
Blundeston 8 816.33x
Caldbeck 8 493.83x
Longside 8 180.18x
West Butterwick With 8 808.08x
Burnley 7 17.43x
Hackney London 7 3.11x
Newtyle 7 555.56x
Wheatacre All Sts 7 3500.00x
Birkenhead 6 8.48x
Castle Acre 6 326.09x
Dedham 6 248.96x
Islington London 6 1.54x
Newington 6 4.04x
Sprowston 6 219.78x
St Woollos 6 18.51x
Birmingham 5 1.48x
Brightside Bierlow 5 6.40x
Coal Aston 5 462.96x
Gainsborough 5 33.00x
Herringfleet 5 1562.50x
Houghton Le Spring 5 60.46x
Kingston On Thames 5 10.63x
Richmond 5 18.22x
Shoreditch London 5 2.87x
Skirbeck Quarter 5 427.35x
St Botolph Aldgate 5 91.07x
Thetford St Mary 5 297.62x
West Rudham 5 769.23x
Westminster St 5 33.74x
Bletchingley 4 156.86x
Govan 4 1.24x
Manchester 4 1.87x
Rawmarsh 4 28.43x
Worlingham 4 1538.46x
Carlton Colville 3 166.67x
Chislehurst 3 40.82x
Goltho 3 2000.00x
Gorleston 3 24.12x
Spotland 3 5.66x
St Pancras London 3 0.93x
Wythburn 3 1071.43x
Coleby West Halton 2 588.24x
East Retford 2 42.55x
Fraserburgh 2 19.08x
Hastings St Mary 2 11.86x
Holmer 2 67.34x
Lowestoft 2 8.65x
Methlick 2 67.11x
Mile End Old Town 2 3.15x
Shepton Mallet 2 27.55x
Tittleshall 2 281.69x
Toft Monks 2 363.64x
Wells Next Sea 2 55.56x
Willingham 2 92.17x
Bedford St Paul 1 7.01x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.81x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.05x
Heigham 1 3.01x
Huntingdon St Mary 1 50.00x
Lambeth 1 0.29x
Liverpool 1 0.35x
Lonmay 1 29.59x
Madron Penzance 1 6.04x
North Shields 1 8.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.55x
Ratcliffe London 1 4.51x
Skirbeck 1 27.78x
Slains 1 57.80x
Tarves 1 28.41x
Whenby 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 9
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Harriet 6
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Lucy 5
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Adelaide 3
Ann 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Sophia 3
Beatrice 2
Eliza 2
Ester 2
Helen 2
Josephine 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Aderlin 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Carolina 1
Catherine 1
Celia 1
Constance 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Harr.T. 1
Inzantia 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Sussannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 17
George 13
James 11
Arthur 8
Frederick 8
Henry 8
Charles 7
Edward 7
Robert 7
Alfred 5
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Richard 3
Emanuel 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Fredk.J. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Leonard 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Charlie 1
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Ephram 1
Fred 1
Fredk.W. 1
Fredric 1
Geo. 1
Geo.W. 1
Hugh 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Montague 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Robt.J. 1
Robt.Wm. 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Willm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Oldman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oldman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 413 people were recorded with the Oldman surname. That placed it at #7,794 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oldman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 516 in 2016. That gives Oldman a modern rank of #9,778.

What does the Oldman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to an elderly or aged man.

What does the Oldman map show?

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