UK surname
Of Germanic origin, meaning "army man" or "warrior".
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Serman surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Oddington, Coggs, Wilcote and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Serman is 121 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.4%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1861
121 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Serman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Serman surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 68 | #21,302 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 50 | #32,899 |
| 1999 | modern | 48 | #33,233 |
| 2000 | modern | 43 | #33,709 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 50 | #33,282 |
| 2003 | modern | 50 | #33,362 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 45 | #34,491 |
| 2007 | modern | 47 | #34,558 |
| 2008 | modern | 50 | #34,521 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 53 | #34,630 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Oddington, Coggs, Wilcote, St Werburgh, Southampton St Mary and Llanidloes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oddington | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Coggs, Wilcote | Oxfordshire |
| 3 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Southampton St Mary | Hampshire |
| 5 | Llanidloes | Montgomeryshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Serman surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Serman, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Serman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Serman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Serman is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Serman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Serman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SERMAN has its origins in the region of Alsace-Lorraine, which is located on the border between France and Germany. It is believed to have emerged during the 16th century, when this area was under the control of the Holy Roman Empire. The name is thought to be derived from the German word "Serman," which means "a soldier" or "a warrior."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SERMAN can be found in the Alsatian town of Colmar, where a man named Hans SERMAN was documented as living in the year 1547. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the mid-16th century.
In the 17th century, the SERMAN name appeared in various records throughout Alsace-Lorraine, indicating that the family had spread across the region. One notable individual from this period was Johann SERMAN, a soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) and was mentioned in the chronicles of the time for his bravery in battle.
By the 18th century, the SERMAN name had also made its way into neighboring regions, such as the Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg. In 1723, a man named Peter SERMAN was recorded as living in the village of Oberkirch, located in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg.
As the years progressed, members of the SERMAN family continued to make their mark in various fields. In the late 19th century, a man named Friedrich SERMAN (1846-1912) gained recognition as a prominent architect in Strasbourg, where he designed several notable buildings that still stand today.
Another notable figure was Hans SERMAN (1888-1962), a German composer and conductor who was born in Freiburg and went on to achieve international acclaim for his operas and orchestral works.
It is worth mentioning that variations of the SERMAN spelling have also been documented over the centuries, such as SERMANN, SEHRMANN, and SEHRMAN, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic influences of the areas where the name was found.
Overall, the surname SERMAN has a rich history that spans several centuries and can be traced back to its origins in the Alsace-Lorraine region, where it was initially associated with the military profession. Despite its German roots, the name has also been adopted by families in neighboring countries, reflecting the cultural and linguistic diversity of the regions where it has been present.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Serman surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 17 Sermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.63x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 3.63x |
| Worcestershire | 11 | 18.00x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 1.08x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 3.27x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.88x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 2.67x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 3.19x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.69x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.31x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 2.85x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.93x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Evenlode in Worcestershire leads with 7 Sermans recorded in 1881 and an index of 17500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Evenlode | 7 | 17500.00x |
| Stanwell | 7 | 2000.00x |
| Falsgrave | 4 | 588.24x |
| Alvechurch | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 21.28x |
| Cheltenham | 3 | 42.37x |
| Islington London | 3 | 6.61x |
| Yalding | 3 | 750.00x |
| South Leith | 2 | 28.33x |
| South Rauceby | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Aston | 1 | 3.08x |
| Belhelvie | 1 | 333.33x |
| Cumnor | 1 | 625.00x |
| Dalby Little | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Ealing | 1 | 23.92x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 34.48x |
| Redditch | 1 | 80.65x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 23.75x |
| St Botolph Aldgate | 1 | 156.25x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 16.37x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 4.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Serman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Serman surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Serman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Butler | 2 |
| Bookseller & Stationer | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman Unemployed | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| Garden Boy (Nd) | 1 |
| Gardener Apprentice | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Housemaid (Dom) | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Nail Maker | 1 |
| Needle Scourer | 1 |
| Ostlur Servant (Inn) | 1 |
| Parlour Maid (D S) | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Stud Groom | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Tramcar Conductor | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Waterman Wife | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Serman surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Serman a modern rank of #34,727.
Of Germanic origin, meaning "army man" or "warrior".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Serman bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.