UK surname
A variant English surname derived from the Middle English "shore" meaning "a ditch" or "trench."
In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Shorman surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #31,451 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bedminster and Barking. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shorman is 119 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.3%.
1881 census count
15
Ranked #31,451
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
119 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shorman surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shorman surname density by area, 1861 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 | 11 | #31,309 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 15 | #31,451 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 19 | #31,911 |
| 1911 | historical | 15 | #31,938 |
| 1997 | modern | 24 | #35,376 |
| 1998 | modern | 23 | #35,603 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 19 | #36,007 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 25 | #36,314 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bedminster, Barking, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lewisham. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 3 | Barking | Essex |
| 4 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shorman 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 Shorman, 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 Shorman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shorman 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, Shorman 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 Shorman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shorman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Shorman has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "scorre" meaning a sharer or divisor, and "mann" meaning man. This suggests the name may have originally referred to a person whose occupation involved dividing or sharing resources or land.
The earliest known record of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1275, where a John Shorman is mentioned. The name is believed to have originated in the East Midlands region of England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
In the 14th century, the name Shorman can be found in various manuscripts and records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Robert Shorman is mentioned in 1348. This suggests the name had spread to other parts of northern England by that time.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Shorman, who was born in Nottinghamshire around 1420. He was a prominent landowner and served as a magistrate in the county during the latter part of the 15th century.
The name Shorman has also been associated with place names in England, such as Shorman's Green in Derbyshire, which is first mentioned in records from the 16th century. This suggests that some branches of the Shorman family may have taken their name from the places they lived or owned land.
In the 17th century, the name Shorman appears in various parish records and court documents across England. Notable individuals from this period include John Shorman (1621-1689), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, and Richard Shorman (1654-1726), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Nottinghamshire.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Shorman name continued to be found in various parts of England, with individuals such as Thomas Shorman (1742-1814), a farmer and landowner in Derbyshire, and Elizabeth Shorman (1789-1867), a philanthropist and social reformer from Nottinghamshire.
Other notable individuals with the surname Shorman include Sir William Shorman (1832-1911), a British industrialist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for a constituency in Nottinghamshire, and Arthur Shorman (1871-1945), a renowned architect and designer who was responsible for several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shorman 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 5 Shormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 3 Shormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.15x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Camberwell | 3 | 32.15x |
| Deptford St Paul | 3 | 78.13x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 55.87x |
| Colchester St Giles | 1 | 357.14x |
| Epsom | 1 | 285.71x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 12.21x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 21.69x |
| St George In East | 1 | 101.01x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 39.22x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shorman 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 Shorman 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 Shorman households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Wharf Carman | 2 |
| Costermonger | 1 |
| Dau To Stationer | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| File Cutter | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Master Stationer (Emp 1 Man 2 Boys) | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Stationer | 1 |
| Superannated Revenue Officer | 1 |
| Turf Correspondent (Reporter) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Shorman surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Shorman a modern rank of #36,254.
A variant English surname derived from the Middle English "shore" meaning "a ditch" or "trench."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shorman 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.