NameCensus.

UK surname

Oman

A toponymic surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the country of Oman.

In the 1881 census there were 359 people recorded with the Oman surname, ranking it #8,614 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 318, ranked #14,159, down from #8,614 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wick, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Seaboard, Northumberland and Black Isle South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oman is 359 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.4%.

1881 census count

359

Ranked #8,614

Modern count

318

2016, ranked #14,159

Peak year

1881

359 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oman had 359 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,614 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016, ranked #14,159.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 359 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Oman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oman 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 275 #8,150
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 359 #8,614
1891 historical 359 #9,635
1901 historical 329 #10,927
1911 historical 197 #15,101
1997 modern 280 #14,136
1998 modern 286 #14,318
1999 modern 287 #14,374
2000 modern 300 #13,904
2001 modern 290 #14,033
2002 modern 303 #13,909
2003 modern 292 #14,065
2004 modern 283 #14,418
2005 modern 283 #14,343
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 292 #14,313
2008 modern 297 #14,230
2009 modern 313 #14,015
2010 modern 327 #13,889
2011 modern 328 #13,730
2012 modern 317 #13,960
2013 modern 307 #14,522
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 312 #14,347
2016 modern 318 #14,159

Geography

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Where Omans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wick, London parishes, Edinburgh, Dunnet and Halkirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Seaboard, Northumberland, Black Isle South, Kintyre Trail and Campbeltown. 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 Wick Caithness
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dunnet Caithness
5 Halkirk Caithness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Seaboard Highland
2 Northumberland 008 Northumberland
3 Black Isle South Highland
4 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute
5 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Oman, 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 Oman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Oman 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Oman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oman 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

Oman 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 Oman 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 Oman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oman

The surname Oman has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the region of Oman, a country located in the southeastern Arabian Peninsula. The name likely derives from the Arabic word "Oman," which means "fertile upland." This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived in or came from the Oman region.

The earliest recorded instances of the Oman surname can be traced back to the 12th century. Some historical references to the name include the Oman family, who were prominent landowners in the Oman region during the medieval period. The name also appears in various Arabic manuscripts and records from that time.

One notable individual with the Oman surname was Ahmad bin Said Al-Oman, a 15th-century Omani scholar and poet. He was known for his contributions to Arabic literature and his works on Islamic theology.

In the 16th century, the Oman surname began to spread beyond the Middle East as traders and travelers from the region ventured to other parts of the world. This led to the establishment of Oman communities in places like India and East Africa.

One example of a notable Oman from this period is Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al-Oman, who ruled the Sultanate of Oman from 1804 to 1856. He played a significant role in establishing Oman's maritime trade and expanding its influence in the region.

Another individual with the Oman surname was Fatima Al-Oman, a 19th-century Omani woman who was known for her philanthropic efforts and her support of education for girls in the region.

As the name spread and evolved, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, such as Omani, Omanee, and Omanis. These variations were often influenced by the languages and cultures of the regions where Oman communities settled.

Despite its Middle Eastern origins, the Oman surname can now be found in various parts of the world, including Europe, North America, and other regions, reflecting the global reach and influence of the Omani people and their culture throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oman 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. Caithness leads with 81 Omans recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.88x.

County Total Index
Caithness 81 169.88x
Orkney 47 122.68x
Midlothian 38 8.15x
Northumberland 31 5.98x
Lanarkshire 25 2.22x
Surrey 24 1.41x
Middlesex 17 0.49x
Yorkshire 17 0.49x
Lancashire 16 0.39x
Sutherland 11 41.08x
Angus 10 3.10x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.70x
Ross-shire 7 7.32x
Argyllshire 4 4.13x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.93x
Cheshire 3 0.39x
Shetland 3 8.44x
Ayrshire 2 0.77x
Essex 2 0.29x
Gloucestershire 2 0.29x
Fife 1 0.49x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.42x
Kent 1 0.08x
Peeblesshire 1 6.11x
Somerset 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thurso in Caithness leads with 24 Omans recorded in 1881 and an index of 322.58x.

Place Total Index
Thurso 24 322.58x
Firth Stenness 22 1341.46x
Wick 22 142.86x
Walls Flotta 21 1173.18x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 9.59x
Bermondsey 12 11.58x
Govan 12 4.31x
Elswick 10 24.18x
Everton 10 7.59x
Islington London 10 2.96x
Bower 8 416.67x
Dunnet 8 416.67x
Olrig 8 336.13x
Westgate 8 24.93x
Glasgow 7 3.50x
Halkirk 7 216.72x
Stornoway 7 56.18x
East Chevington 6 348.84x
Hauxley 6 517.24x
Rotherhithe 6 13.94x
Bradford 5 5.99x
Dundee 5 4.15x
Kearby Cum Netherby 5 2941.18x
Liff Benvie 5 10.21x
Newark Upon Trent 5 29.64x
North Leith 5 23.16x
Salford 5 4.11x
Barony 4 1.40x
Dornoch 4 132.45x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 4 147.06x
Loth 4 571.43x
Saddell Skipness 4 289.86x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 4.97x
Bressay Burra Quarff 3 193.55x
Edinburgh High Church 3 102.39x
Mile End Old Town 3 5.46x
Preston Under Soar 3 697.67x
Stromness 3 104.53x
Tranmere 3 10.62x
Withernwick 3 555.56x
Camberwell 2 0.90x
Cambusnethan 2 8.00x
Chelsea London 2 1.91x
Cheltenham 2 3.80x
Inveresk 2 15.84x
Kildonan 2 86.21x
Newington 2 1.55x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.65x
Watten 2 119.05x
West Ham 2 1.32x
Ayr 1 8.13x
Bath St Peter St Paul 1 40.32x
Berkhampstead 1 18.52x
Colinton 1 19.23x
Corstorphine 1 38.91x
Duddingston 1 10.68x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 10.33x
Falsgrave 1 19.65x
Glenholm 1 357.14x
Golspie 1 53.76x
Hackney London 1 0.51x
Kirkwall St Ola 1 17.42x
Latheron 1 12.53x
Liberton 1 13.89x
Maidstone 1 2.83x
Newburgh 1 38.17x
North Shields 1 9.67x
Nottingham St Peter 1 19.12x
Oldham 1 0.75x
Poplar London 1 1.52x
Portsea 1 0.71x
Reay 1 38.31x
South Leith 1 1.90x
Southwark Christchurch 1 6.13x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.43x
Stevenston 1 14.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Ellen 5
Ann 4
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Annie 2
Isabella 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.Ellen 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
P... 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 9
James 8
George 6
Charles 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Donald 2
Francis 2
Richard 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
J.William 1
Maurice 1
Nathaniel 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Oman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 359 people were recorded with the Oman surname. That placed it at #8,614 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016. That gives Oman a modern rank of #14,159.

What does the Oman surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from a place name, likely referring to someone from the country of Oman.

What does the Oman map show?

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