NameCensus.

UK surname

Orman

A Turkish surname meaning "forest," likely referring to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.

In the 1881 census there were 402 people recorded with the Orman surname, ranking it #7,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 714, ranked #7,599, up from #7,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Brightlingsea and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Dorset, New Forest and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Orman is 716 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.6%.

1881 census count

402

Ranked #7,949

Modern count

714

2016, ranked #7,599

Peak year

2014

716 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Orman had 402 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016, ranked #7,599.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 640 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Orman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Orman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Orman 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 266 #9,318
1881 historical 402 #7,949
1891 historical 460 #7,953
1901 historical 596 #7,109
1911 historical 640 #6,517
1997 modern 585 #8,291
1998 modern 617 #8,228
1999 modern 627 #8,187
2000 modern 627 #8,163
2001 modern 611 #8,182
2002 modern 638 #8,074
2003 modern 596 #8,376
2004 modern 612 #8,229
2005 modern 607 #8,206
2006 modern 623 #8,061
2007 modern 624 #8,106
2008 modern 617 #8,228
2009 modern 648 #8,093
2010 modern 666 #8,091
2011 modern 661 #8,051
2012 modern 685 #7,732
2013 modern 713 #7,623
2014 modern 716 #7,638
2015 modern 716 #7,591
2016 modern 714 #7,599

Geography

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Where Ormans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Brightlingsea, Edinburgh and Southampton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Dorset, New Forest, Manchester, Adur and Southampton. 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 1
2 Brightlingsea Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Southampton St Mary Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Dorset 006 East Dorset
2 New Forest 014 New Forest
3 Manchester 013 Manchester
4 Adur 004 Adur
5 Southampton 010 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Orman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Orman

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Orman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Orman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Orman 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

Orman is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Orman falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Orman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Orman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Orman

The surname Orman is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the late 12th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "orman," which means "warrior" or "brave." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who displayed exceptional courage or military prowess.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Orman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1194, where a man named William Orman is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer, and their inclusion of the name Orman indicates that it was already established in England by that time.

In the 13th century, the surname Orman appears in various records from different regions of England, such as the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1212, which mention a Robert Orman. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its initial origins and was being used by families across the country.

During the Middle Ages, the name Orman was also associated with certain place names, such as Ormesby in Yorkshire and Ormskirk in Lancashire. These place names likely derived from the same Old English word "orman," and it is possible that some individuals adopted the surname Orman based on their association with these locations.

One notable figure in history who bore the surname Orman was Sir John Orman, a 14th-century English knight who served as the Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk in 1379. Another prominent individual was William Orman, a 16th-century merchant and Member of Parliament for Ipswich in 1547.

In the 17th century, the name Orman appeared in various records, including the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, where several Orman families were recorded as residents. During this period, the spelling of the name may have varied slightly, appearing as Ormon or Ormyn in some instances.

Other historical figures with the surname Orman include Richard Orman, a 17th-century English clergyman and author of religious works, and Thomas Orman, a 19th-century British architect who designed several notable buildings in London.

While the surname Orman has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely due to migration and travel. However, the earliest recorded instances and the historical significance of the name can be traced back to its English origins, rooted in the Old English word "orman" and its association with bravery and military valor.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Orman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Orman 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. Hampshire leads with 66 Ormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.19x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 66 8.19x
Dorset 41 15.89x
Essex 41 5.28x
Middlesex 39 0.99x
Kent 36 2.68x
Midlothian 31 5.89x
Surrey 30 1.57x
Yorkshire 22 0.56x
Suffolk 21 4.39x
Lincolnshire 13 2.07x
Cumberland 9 2.66x
Nottinghamshire 8 1.51x
Glamorgan 7 1.02x
Berkshire 6 2.03x
Lancashire 6 0.13x
Sussex 6 0.91x
Derbyshire 5 0.81x
Staffordshire 4 0.30x
Leicestershire 3 0.69x
Northumberland 3 0.51x
Hertfordshire 2 0.74x
Devon 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 2.13x
Somerset 1 0.16x
Stirlingshire 1 0.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brightlingsea in Essex leads with 35 Ormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 790.07x.

Place Total Index
Brightlingsea 35 790.07x
Cranborne 21 673.08x
Camberwell 18 7.17x
Exbury 16 3404.26x
Wimborne Minster 16 383.69x
Kensington London 13 5.95x
Boldre 12 415.22x
Headingley Cum Burley 11 43.86x
Cockpen 10 162.60x
Portsea 10 6.33x
Ivychurch 9 2571.43x
Chertsey 8 64.62x
Hound 8 146.25x
Ragnall 8 3200.00x
West Bretton 7 1489.36x
Whippingham 7 114.75x
Edinburgh Old 6 187.50x
Ipswich St Clement 6 49.30x
Reading St Giles 6 20.73x
South Leith 6 10.12x
St Andrew Holborn 6 45.01x
St John Near Swansea 6 70.92x
East Bergholt 5 312.50x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 5 162.87x
Goodnestone In 5 7142.86x
Langtoft 5 632.91x
Litchurch 5 20.19x
Rickergate 5 69.83x
Southampton All Sts 5 36.18x
Southwick 5 142.45x
Warehorne 5 694.44x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.34x
Clee With Weelsby 4 29.07x
Ipswich St Peter 4 62.02x
Manchester 4 1.91x
Sedgley 4 8.12x
Willesden 4 10.79x
Appledore 3 344.83x
Bermondsey 3 2.56x
Broomhaugh 3 1000.00x
Christchurch 3 17.17x
Gussage All Sts 3 535.71x
Hammersmith London 3 3.10x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 18.46x
Kenardington 3 1200.00x
Leicester All Sts 3 35.05x
Romford 3 24.45x
St Luke London 3 4.76x
Stainton 3 265.49x
Dalkeith 2 19.25x
Deeping St Nicholas 2 108.70x
Holy Trinity 2 2.13x
Orlestone 2 357.14x
Rochester St Margaret 2 14.14x
Wivenhoe 2 64.94x
Baylham 1 133.33x
Chartham 1 29.94x
Dalton In Furness 1 5.55x
East Stonehouse 1 6.20x
Fawley 1 39.06x
Fulham London 1 1.75x
Hitchin 1 8.18x
Holdenhurst 1 4.73x
Hornsey 1 2.01x
Ipswich St Helen 1 17.61x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 7.45x
Leeds 1 0.45x
Limehouse London 1 2.32x
Linton 1 84.75x
Melcombe Regis 1 9.35x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 1.52x
North Meols 1 2.19x
Poplar London 1 1.35x
Royal Navy 1 2.50x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.97x
Stirling 1 5.47x
Stone In Dartford 1 29.07x
Strood 1 13.07x
Temple Bruer 1 370.37x
Tenterden 1 21.14x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
George 18
John 17
Charles 11
James 10
Albert 9
Henry 9
Thomas 9
Alfred 6
Joseph 6
Benjamin 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
Robert 4
Stephen 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Sydney 3
Isaac 2
Jacob 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Augustus 1
Bertie 1
Charey 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Montagu 1
Montague 1
Regineld 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Spencer 1
T. 1
Tom 1
Willoughby 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Orman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Orman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 402 people were recorded with the Orman surname. That placed it at #7,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Orman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 714 in 2016. That gives Orman a modern rank of #7,599.

What does the Orman surname mean?

A Turkish surname meaning "forest," likely referring to someone who lived near or worked in a forest.

What does the Orman map show?

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