NameCensus.

UK surname

Shortman

A descriptive surname referring to someone of small stature.

In the 1881 census there were 196 people recorded with the Shortman surname, ranking it #13,006 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 483, ranked #10,240, up from #13,006 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, South Gloucestershire and Tamworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shortman is 523 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 146.4%.

1881 census count

196

Ranked #13,006

Modern count

483

2016, ranked #10,240

Peak year

1998

523 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shortman had 196 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,006 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 483 in 2016, ranked #10,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 368 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Shortman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shortman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shortman 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 103 #16,835
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 196 #13,006
1891 historical 239 #13,173
1901 historical 323 #11,065
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 516 #9,095
1998 modern 523 #9,276
1999 modern 522 #9,348
2000 modern 507 #9,530
2001 modern 500 #9,464
2002 modern 504 #9,578
2003 modern 495 #9,557
2004 modern 489 #9,652
2005 modern 488 #9,607
2006 modern 483 #9,722
2007 modern 494 #9,654
2008 modern 489 #9,808
2009 modern 502 #9,818
2010 modern 498 #10,091
2011 modern 501 #9,938
2012 modern 492 #9,989
2013 modern 494 #10,104
2014 modern 501 #10,063
2015 modern 486 #10,216
2016 modern 483 #10,240

Geography

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Where Shortmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, South Gloucestershire and Tamworth. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 003 Neath Port Talbot
2 South Gloucestershire 016 South Gloucestershire
3 South Gloucestershire 029 South Gloucestershire
4 South Gloucestershire 026 South Gloucestershire
5 Tamworth 002 Tamworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shortman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shortman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shortman, 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 Shortman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shortman 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Shortman is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Shortman 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

Shortman falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shortman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shortman

The surname Shortman is believed to have originated in England, likely during the late medieval period. It is thought to be a descriptive surname derived from the Old English words "sceort" (short) and "man" (man), referring to a person of short stature or height.

The earliest known record of the surname Shortman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1230, where a certain Robert Shortman is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the early 13th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, compiled in 1273, a reference is made to a William Schorteman, highlighting a slightly different spelling of the name. This variation in spelling was not uncommon during the Middle Ages, as surnames were often recorded phonetically by scribes who had their own regional dialects.

The Domesday Book, the famous survey of England compiled in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname Shortman. However, it does mention a few places with names that could be related, such as Shortemanneswurthe and Shortgrave.

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the Shortman surname was John Shortman, a merchant and alderman who lived in London during the 15th century. He is mentioned in various records from the city's archives, including the Letter Books of the City of London.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Shortman, who was born in 1520 and served as a member of parliament for the borough of Southwark during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a successful merchant and played an active role in the affairs of the City of London.

In the 17th century, the Shortman family had established themselves in the county of Berkshire, where they owned land and property. One notable member was William Shortman (1625-1689), a wealthy landowner and Justice of the Peace for the county.

The name Shortman also appears in some literary works from the 16th and 17th centuries, such as the plays of William Shakespeare and the writings of Samuel Pepys, indicating that it was a well-known surname during that period.

It is worth noting that the surname Shortman has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Shortmansbury, Shortmanley, and Shortmanford, further reinforcing its geographical origins and connections.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shortman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shortman 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. Gloucestershire leads with 87 Shortmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.20x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 87 23.20x
Monmouthshire 24 17.37x
Glamorgan 21 6.31x
Somerset 15 4.87x
Lancashire 11 0.48x
Surrey 8 0.86x
Warwickshire 7 1.45x
Shropshire 5 3.03x
Devon 4 1.01x
Middlesex 4 0.21x
Norfolk 4 1.36x
Worcestershire 3 1.20x
Cornwall 2 0.92x
Brecknockshire 1 2.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 32 Shortmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 184.54x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 32 184.54x
Westbury On Trym 24 188.98x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 19 53.82x
Trevethin 12 91.95x
Pendleton In Salford 11 40.70x
Gelligaer 9 118.42x
Bedwellty 8 32.79x
Keynsham 8 361.99x
Ystradyfodwg 8 27.40x
Aston 7 5.27x
Bath St James 7 218.07x
Lambeth 6 3.60x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 5 274.73x
Clase 4 32.31x
Great Yarmouth 4 16.43x
Newnham 4 416.67x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 13.05x
Christchurch 3 70.09x
Northfield 3 63.29x
Battersea 2 2.84x
Bristol St Paul In 2 20.02x
Horfield 2 53.05x
Madron Penzance 2 25.41x
Mangotsfield 2 53.48x
St Pancras London 2 1.30x
Aberystruth 1 8.21x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 8.00x
Hackney London 1 0.93x
Llangattock 1 32.15x
St Martin In Fields 1 8.73x
Stapleton 1 14.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 10
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Hester 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Ada 1
Clarissa 1
Elizh. 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Lilly 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
May 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
S.Ann 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
Thomas 10
George 9
Frederick 8
Isaac 5
James 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Albert 3
John 3
Abraham 2
Alfred 2
Frances 2
Joseph 2
Sidney 2
Anthony 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Isace 1
Jacob 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Seth 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Shortman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shortman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 196 people were recorded with the Shortman surname. That placed it at #13,006 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shortman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 483 in 2016. That gives Shortman a modern rank of #10,240.

What does the Shortman surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to someone of small stature.

What does the Shortman map show?

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