NameCensus.

UK surname

Pullman

A surname potentially originating from the occupation of pulling carriage cars.

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Pullman surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 415, ranked #11,550, down from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pullman is 420 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.1%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

415

2016, ranked #11,550

Peak year

2014

420 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pullman had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 415 in 2016, ranked #11,550.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Pullman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pullman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pullman 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 333 #10,223
1901 historical 373 #9,948
1911 historical 379 #9,672
1997 modern 356 #12,021
1998 modern 369 #12,077
1999 modern 357 #12,433
2000 modern 361 #12,288
2001 modern 360 #12,127
2002 modern 378 #11,939
2003 modern 377 #11,762
2004 modern 366 #12,053
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 364 #12,106
2007 modern 367 #12,152
2008 modern 372 #12,123
2009 modern 379 #12,224
2010 modern 384 #12,374
2011 modern 377 #12,392
2012 modern 409 #11,547
2013 modern 417 #11,556
2014 modern 420 #11,567
2015 modern 409 #11,713
2016 modern 415 #11,550

Geography

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Where Pullmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Evershot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, East Hampshire and Thanet. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
5 Evershot Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 012 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 006 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 East Hampshire 003 East Hampshire
5 Thanet 013 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pullman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pullman

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pullman 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

Pullman 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

Pullman 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 Pullman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pullman

The surname Pullman is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pullian," which means "to pluck" or "to pull," and was likely an occupational name for a person who worked as a wool puller or a cloth maker.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1327, where one Robert le Pullman was listed. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during the 14th century.

The Pullman surname is also associated with certain place names in England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire. In the 16th century, records show variations of the name such as Pullman, Poolman, and Poleman, which may have been influenced by the local dialects or spellings of the time.

Notable individuals bearing the Pullman surname include George Mortimer Pullman (1831-1897), an American industrialist and inventor who revolutionized the railroad passenger car industry with his innovative sleeping car design. His company, the Pullman Palace Car Company, became a prominent manufacturer of luxury railcars in the late 19th century.

Another prominent figure was Philip Pullman (born 1946), a renowned British author best known for his fantasy trilogy, "His Dark Materials." His works have been widely acclaimed and have garnered numerous awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Book of the Year award.

In the realm of sports, Daren Pullman (born 1975) was a professional boxer from England who competed in the heavyweight division and held the British heavyweight title between 2003 and 2005.

The Pullman surname also has historical roots in other fields, such as architecture and engineering. Thomas Pullman (1830-1892) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal Academy of Music.

Additionally, John Pullman (1876-1947) was an American civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of the Panama Canal, serving as the resident engineer for the Gatun Locks project during the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pullman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pullman 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. Devon leads with 53 Pullmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.94x.

County Total Index
Devon 53 8.94x
Middlesex 46 1.61x
Kent 38 3.91x
Dorset 28 14.98x
Glamorgan 26 5.24x
Surrey 22 1.59x
Somerset 15 3.27x
Yorkshire 11 0.39x
Berkshire 10 4.68x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.34x
Lanarkshire 6 0.65x
Sussex 6 1.25x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Channel Islands 3 3.55x
Essex 3 0.53x
Gloucestershire 3 0.54x
Bedfordshire 1 0.68x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.51x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.77x
Monmouthshire 1 0.49x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x
Wiltshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luppitt in Devon leads with 15 Pullmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2542.37x.

Place Total Index
Luppitt 15 2542.37x
Merthyr Tydfil 15 31.47x
Ottery St Mary 13 334.19x
Islington London 12 4.35x
Ramsgate 12 75.66x
Dover St Mary Virgin 11 116.90x
Rotherhithe 11 31.26x
Abbas Temple Coombe 10 4166.67x
Evershot 10 2040.82x
Sixpenny Handley 10 1098.90x
St Pancras London 10 4.36x
Morchard Bishop 9 725.81x
Snenton 8 53.05x
Clewer 7 79.91x
Hackney London 7 4.38x
Cardiff St Mary 6 21.96x
Langfield 5 101.21x
Neath 5 49.55x
Pinhoe 5 943.40x
Tonbridge 5 14.27x
Brighton 4 4.13x
Bromley London 4 6.38x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.34x
Exeter St Mary Steps 4 298.51x
Feltham 4 140.85x
Glasgow 4 2.45x
Lambeth 4 1.61x
St Marylebone London 4 2.63x
Topsham 4 142.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 5.70x
Deptford St Nicholas 3 38.91x
Frampton 3 731.71x
Reading St Mary 3 17.52x
Southwark St Saviour 3 20.49x
St Helier 3 10.92x
Stoke 3 45.80x
Taunton St Mary 3 35.63x
Govan 2 0.88x
Holy Trinity St Mary 2 46.51x
Kensington London 2 1.26x
Stockwood 2 2857.14x
West Ham 2 1.61x
Ardwick 1 3.28x
Barnstaple 1 10.74x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.18x
Barugh 1 42.02x
Bedford St Cuthbert 1 76.34x
Bedwellty 1 2.75x
Birmingham 1 0.42x
Burnley 1 3.51x
Darenth 1 66.67x
Eastbourne 1 4.52x
Exeter Heavitree 1 22.62x
Gillingham 1 31.15x
Great Little Marsden 1 6.46x
Greenwich 1 2.21x
Halifax 1 2.41x
Harewood 1 142.86x
Harpenden 1 33.44x
Hatch Beauchamp 1 285.71x
Holdenhurst 1 6.53x
Holy Trinity 1 1.47x
Ifield 1 50.00x
Ilminster 1 31.25x
Kimbolton 1 84.03x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.00x
Little Totham 1 322.58x
Lonbridge Deverill 1 113.64x
Maidstone 1 3.45x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.01x
Paddington London 1 0.95x
Puddletown 1 86.96x
Sherborne 1 18.15x
St George Hanover 1 2.69x
St Luke London 1 2.19x
Tormoham 1 3.99x
Toxteth Park 1 0.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 12
Emma 6
Bessie 5
Emily 5
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Hannah 4
Ann 3
Anne 3
Clara 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Amelia 1
Annice 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Dora 1
Eger 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emelia 1
Eve 1
Fanny 1
Hattie 1
Horace 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Leila 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Thomas 13
Henry 11
William 10
George 9
James 8
Robert 7
Charles 5
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Arthur 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Robt. 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Christopher 1
Dennis 1
Ebenezer 1
Ernest 1
Florence 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Josh. 1
Lewis 1
Osborne 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Samson 1
Septimus 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Victor 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Wood 1

FAQ

Pullman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pullman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Pullman surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pullman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 415 in 2016. That gives Pullman a modern rank of #11,550.

What does the Pullman surname mean?

A surname potentially originating from the occupation of pulling carriage cars.

What does the Pullman map show?

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