UK surname

Shulman

A Jewish occupational surname referring to a synagogue sexton or caretaker, derived from the Hebrew word "shul" for synagogue.

In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Shulman surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 152, ranked #23,516, up from #33,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Barnet and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shulman is 159 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 3700.0%.

1881 census count

Ranked #33,288

Modern count

152

2016, ranked #23,516

Peak year

2014

159 bearers

Map years

1998 to 2016

Key insights

• Shulman had 4 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,288 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016, ranked #23,516.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 89 in 1911.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Map

Shulman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shulman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Shulman 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
1861	historical	5	#33,418
1881	historical	4	#33,288
1891	historical	21	#32,526
1901	historical	55	#28,064
1911	historical	89	#23,922
1997	modern	151	#21,034
1998	modern	151	#21,578
1999	modern	150	#21,826
2000	modern	146	#22,170
2001	modern	138	#22,647
2002	modern	137	#23,198
2003	modern	150	#21,669
2004	modern	143	#22,471
2005	modern	147	#22,057
2006	modern	125	#24,611
2007	modern	132	#24,166
2008	modern	133	#24,350
2009	modern	136	#24,485
2010	modern	146	#23,921
2011	modern	149	#23,408
2012	modern	153	#22,963
2013	modern	150	#23,653
2014	modern	159	#22,930
2015	modern	154	#23,306
2016	modern	152	#23,516

Geography

Where Shulmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Barnet, Westminster and Hackney. 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	No data	No data

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Camden 004	Camden
2	Barnet 033	Barnet
3	Westminster 007	Westminster
4	Camden 017	Camden
5	Hackney 001	Hackney

Forenames

First names often paired with Shulman

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Sarah Victoria Barbara Lynne Lisa Natalie Sylvia Angela Nicola Bayla

Recent male names

David Jeremy Adam James Philip Mark Nicholas Raymond Harvey Michael

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Shulman

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Shulman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Shulman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Shulman 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

Shulman is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shulman 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shulman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Shulman

The surname Shulman is of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, deriving from the Yiddish term "shul," which translates to "synagogue" or "school." The name first emerged in the 14th century in the regions of modern-day Germany and Poland, where Jewish communities had established themselves.

In the early days, the name Shulman likely referred to individuals who worked or held positions within synagogues or religious schools. It could have been used to identify rabbis, teachers, or other officials associated with these institutions. Over time, the name became hereditary, passing down from generation to generation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Shulman name can be found in the Memorbuch, a record book maintained by the Jewish community in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. In this document, dated 1349, a man named Abraham Shulman is mentioned as having donated funds to the local synagogue.

During the Middle Ages, the name also appeared in various legal documents and tax records across Central and Eastern Europe. For instance, in the 16th century, a merchant named Isaac Shulman is mentioned in the archives of the city of Krakow, Poland.

As the Jewish diaspora spread across Europe and beyond, the Shulman name traveled with them. In the 18th century, a prominent rabbi and scholar named Yitzchak Shulman (1725-1802) lived in Vilna, Lithuania, and authored several influential works on Jewish law and philosophy.

In the 19th century, the Shulman name gained further prominence with the birth of Solomon Shulman (1832-1904), a Russian-born Jewish banker and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the establishment of educational institutions in Odessa and St. Petersburg.

Another notable figure was David Shulman (1864-1935), a Polish-born American businessman and real estate developer who played a crucial role in the early development of Los Angeles, California.

During the 20th century, the Shulman name continued to be carried by individuals across various fields, including the American architect and photographer Julius Shulman (1910-2009), known for his iconic images of modernist architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Shulman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shulman 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. Middlesex leads with 4 Shulmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.29x.

County	Total	Frequency	Index
Middlesex	4	0.00%	10.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 4 Shulmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1379.31x.

Place	Total	Frequency	Index
Spitalfields London	4	0.02%	1379.31x

Top female names

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

Name	Count
Fanny	1

Top male names

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

Name	Count
Barnett	1
Marks	1
Michael	1

Top occupations

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 Shulman households.

Occupation	Count
Boot Maker	1
Scholar	1
Tailor	1

FAQ

Shulman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shulman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Shulman surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shulman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 152 in 2016. That gives Shulman a modern rank of #23,516.

What does the Shulman surname mean?