NameCensus.

UK surname

Proudman

A locational surname derived from an English place name, possibly referring to someone from a proud or haughty town or village.

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Proudman surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 460, ranked #10,657, down from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Davenham, Tamworth and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hinckley and Bosworth, Cheshire East and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Proudman is 514 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.4%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

460

2016, ranked #10,657

Peak year

2010

514 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Proudman had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 460 in 2016, ranked #10,657.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 456 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Proudman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Proudman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Proudman 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 186 #12,751
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 391 #9,638
1911 historical 456 #8,409
1997 modern 409 #10,818
1998 modern 471 #10,048
1999 modern 494 #9,752
2000 modern 466 #10,163
2001 modern 484 #9,702
2002 modern 476 #9,999
2003 modern 471 #9,902
2004 modern 472 #9,926
2005 modern 466 #9,935
2006 modern 474 #9,855
2007 modern 495 #9,642
2008 modern 490 #9,794
2009 modern 498 #9,894
2010 modern 514 #9,838
2011 modern 499 #9,965
2012 modern 466 #10,403
2013 modern 467 #10,544
2014 modern 472 #10,525
2015 modern 469 #10,500
2016 modern 460 #10,657

Geography

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Where Proudmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Davenham, Tamworth, Wolstanton, Sandbach and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hinckley and Bosworth, Cheshire East, East Devon and Leicester. 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 Davenham Cheshire
2 Tamworth Staffordshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Sandbach Cheshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hinckley and Bosworth 004 Hinckley and Bosworth
2 Cheshire East 037 Cheshire East
3 East Devon 006 East Devon
4 Cheshire East 032 Cheshire East
5 Leicester 003 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Proudman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Proudman

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Proudman 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

Proudman is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Proudman falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Proudman

The surname Proudman is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "prud" and "man," meaning "proud" and "man," respectively. This combination likely referred to an individual with a proud or confident demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Proudman can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham, where a baptism of a child named John Proudman was registered in 1592. This suggests that the name was already in use in the East Midlands region of England during that time.

During the 17th century, the Proudman surname appeared in various historical documents, including tax records and court proceedings. For instance, in 1673, a William Proudman was mentioned in the Lancashire Quarter Sessions records for a case involving debt settlement.

The name Proudman has also been linked to certain place names in England. For example, there was a hamlet called Proudman's Wood near the village of Walsall in Staffordshire, which may have been named after an early settler with the Proudman surname.

One notable individual with the Proudman surname was John Proudman (1648-1726), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Elmley Lovett in Worcestershire. Another was Thomas Proudman (1720-1794), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Liverpool, who bequeathed a significant portion of his fortune to establish a charitable institution known as the Proudman Charities.

In the 19th century, the Proudman name gained prominence with individuals like Joseph Proudman (1888-1975), a renowned British oceanographer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of tides and ocean currents. Another notable figure was Charles Proudman (1872-1936), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in Liverpool, including the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Other individuals with the Proudman surname include Robert Proudman (1916-2001), a British engineer and inventor who developed the Proudman Jet Boat, and Daniel Proudman (born 1971), a British actor known for his roles in television shows like Coronation Street and Casualty.

While the Proudman surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and association with various notable figures across different fields make it a distinctive and interesting name with deep roots in English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Proudman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Proudman 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. Staffordshire leads with 63 Proudmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.71x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 63 6.71x
Cheshire 59 9.61x
Leicestershire 45 14.60x
Derbyshire 31 7.12x
Lancashire 19 0.58x
Middlesex 17 0.61x
Worcestershire 10 2.75x
Warwickshire 9 1.28x
Herefordshire 8 7.02x
Nottinghamshire 7 1.87x
Northumberland 5 1.21x
Surrey 4 0.30x
Essex 3 0.55x
Yorkshire 3 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Oxfordshire 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. Measham in Derbyshire leads with 18 Proudmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1125.00x.

Place Total Index
Measham 18 1125.00x
Wharton 13 389.22x
Wolstanton 12 42.11x
Wolstanton Knutton 12 209.42x
Birkenhead 11 22.49x
Thrussington 10 1724.14x
Carlton 8 3076.92x
Church Gresley 8 115.61x
Paddington London 8 7.83x
Church Coppenhall 7 255.47x
Rushall 7 126.81x
Sandbach 7 133.84x
Tamworth 7 139.44x
Ratcliffe On The Wreake 6 6000.00x
Rusholme 6 68.18x
Wolverhampton 6 8.32x
Worksop 6 54.01x
Areley Kings 5 781.25x
Birmingham 5 2.14x
Burslem 5 18.60x
Burton Upon Trent 5 22.78x
Hackney London 5 3.21x
Leicester All Sts 5 82.64x
Lower Mitton 5 156.25x
Seven Oaks 5 2941.18x
Tweedmouth 5 96.90x
Gorton 4 12.90x
Islington London 4 1.48x
Macclesfield 4 14.66x
Rotherhithe 4 11.64x
Bradwall 3 476.19x
Broughton In Salford 3 9.95x
Eyton 3 2727.27x
Hope Under Dinmore 3 638.30x
Leyton Low 3 26.91x
Newton 3 11.80x
Sheepshed 3 71.09x
Whitherley 3 612.24x
Wigginton Hopwas Hays 3 967.74x
Wolstanton Oldcott 3 88.24x
Alfreton 2 15.13x
Ashby De La Zouch 2 28.01x
Aston 2 1.04x
Hulme 2 2.90x
Leek Lowe 2 16.03x
Leominster 2 42.37x
Peover Superior 2 344.83x
Sheffield 2 2.28x
Thringstone 2 169.49x
Warmingham 2 666.67x
Antrobus 1 238.10x
Aston By Budworth 1 232.56x
Bicester Market End 1 31.75x
Cannock 1 6.11x
Comberbach 1 344.83x
Congerstone 1 526.32x
Conisbrough 1 38.76x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 4.78x
Derby St Peter 1 7.22x
Glossop Dale 1 4.91x
Hoby 1 333.33x
Hungarton 1 238.10x
Market Bosworth 1 90.09x
Nailstone 1 142.86x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.03x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.54x
Portsea 1 0.90x
Rostherne 1 277.78x
Stapenhill 1 15.43x
Tetton 1 666.67x
Twycross 1 294.12x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 19.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 11
Ann 8
Martha 6
Annie 5
Emma 5
Jane 5
Eliza 4
Louisa 4
Harriet 3
Minnie 3
Ruth 3
Alice 2
F.A. 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Nellie 2
Rebecca 2
A.D. 1
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Angelina 1
C.F. 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Emma 1
Elizth.G. 1
Elizth.Mary 1
Ellen 1
Eunis 1
Eveline 1
Faith 1
Isabel 1
L.M. 1
Lilly 1
Lottie 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Priscilla 1
Rosannah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 22
Thomas 15
George 12
James 11
Joseph 9
Samuel 9
Alfred 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Lewis 2
Albert 1
Daniel 1
David 1
E.H. 1
Edwin 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Garner 1
Herbert 1
J.P. 1
J.W. 1
Jesse 1
Josh. 1
M.E. 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Reubin 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1
Willm 1
Willm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Proudman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Proudman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Proudman surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Proudman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 460 in 2016. That gives Proudman a modern rank of #10,657.

What does the Proudman surname mean?

A locational surname derived from an English place name, possibly referring to someone from a proud or haughty town or village.

What does the Proudman map show?

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