NameCensus.

UK surname

Silman

An English and German surname derived from a place name meaning "dwelling by the willows".

In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Silman surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 318, ranked #14,159, down from #13,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Winwick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Cherwell and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Silman is 344 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.9%.

1881 census count

185

Ranked #13,506

Modern count

318

2016, ranked #14,159

Peak year

1999

344 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Silman had 185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016, ranked #14,159.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 308 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Silman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Silman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Silman 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 93 #17,946
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 185 #13,506
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 308 #11,230
1997 modern 270 #14,515
1998 modern 331 #13,018
1999 modern 344 #12,776
2000 modern 341 #12,801
2001 modern 329 #12,921
2002 modern 324 #13,305
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 310 #13,589
2005 modern 305 #13,689
2006 modern 313 #13,517
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 297 #14,230
2009 modern 309 #14,135
2010 modern 314 #14,258
2011 modern 308 #14,356
2012 modern 314 #14,063
2013 modern 325 #13,924
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 318 #14,159

Geography

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Where Silmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Winwick, Shipton-under-Wychwood and Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Cherwell, North Lincolnshire, Doncaster and Trafford. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Winwick Lancashire
4 Shipton-under-Wychwood Oxfordshire
5 Bampton (Brighthamton, Shifford, Aston and Cote, Bampton, Weald, Chimney), Witney (Lew), Blackbourto Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 011 North Hertfordshire
2 Cherwell 002 Cherwell
3 North Lincolnshire 004 North Lincolnshire
4 Doncaster 029 Doncaster
5 Trafford 028 Trafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Silman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Silman

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Silman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Silman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Silman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Silman is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Silman 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 Silman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Silman

The surname SILMAN has its origins in the United Kingdom, primarily in England and Scotland. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is derived from an Old English word "silf," meaning "self" or "one's own," combined with the suffix "-man," indicating a person or individual.

SILMAN is thought to have initially referred to a self-sufficient or independent person, possibly a landowner or someone who lived and worked on their own property. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe a person's occupation or status within a community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SILMAN can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century, where a individual named John Silman was listed as a taxpayer. This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during that time period.

In the 16th century, the SILMAN surname appeared in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. The name may have been influenced by regional variations in spelling and pronunciation, leading to variations such as Sillman, Sillyman, and Silverman.

Notable individuals with the SILMAN surname include:

1. Richard Silman (c. 1550 - 1618), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Nottinghamshire. 2. William Silman (1675 - 1742), a Scottish merchant and trader who established trade routes between Scotland and the American colonies. 3. Elizabeth Silman (1718 - 1795), an English author and poet from Yorkshire, known for her works on rural life and nature. 4. James Silman (1832 - 1904), a Scottish inventor and engineer credited with developing early versions of the pneumatic tire. 5. Anna Silman (1879 - 1962), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and equality in the early 20th century.

The SILMAN surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Silman's Farm in Lincolnshire and Silman's Hill in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its historical roots and geographic connections within the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Silman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Silman 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. Oxfordshire leads with 73 Silmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.59x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 73 66.59x
Warwickshire 26 5.81x
Gloucestershire 15 4.31x
Middlesex 13 0.73x
Northamptonshire 9 5.39x
Surrey 9 1.04x
Herefordshire 7 9.62x
Lanarkshire 6 1.05x
Brecknockshire 5 14.08x
Devon 5 1.35x
Glamorgan 4 1.29x
Essex 2 0.57x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.93x
Cheshire 1 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.42x
Royal Navy 1 4.73x
Somerset 1 0.35x
Suffolk 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 16 Silmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.98x.

Place Total Index
Aston 16 12.98x
Milton Under Wychwood 16 3137.25x
Blackbourton 9 6923.08x
Brize Norton 9 1914.89x
Peterborough 8 66.17x
Bosbury 7 1166.67x
Idbury 7 6363.64x
Battersea 6 9.18x
Birmingham 6 4.02x
Govan 6 4.23x
Wendlebury 6 6000.00x
Islington London 5 2.91x
Llanelly 5 117.65x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 12.20x
St Luke London 4 14.04x
Witney 4 218.58x
Ambrosden 3 681.82x
Exeter St Edmund 3 375.00x
Horspath 3 1500.00x
Milverton 3 229.01x
North Leigh 3 750.00x
Bermondsey 2 3.78x
Bitton Oldland 2 56.18x
Bristol St George 2 12.42x
Kemerton 2 666.67x
Margam 2 57.97x
Oxford St Giles 2 38.24x
Skipton 2 36.10x
Swansea Town 2 7.89x
Uffculme 2 181.82x
Walthamstow 2 15.86x
Woodstock 2 289.86x
Bathhampton 1 400.00x
Beeston 1 36.36x
Berkeley 1 51.55x
Bledington 1 454.55x
Brill 1 126.58x
Chelsea London 1 1.87x
Chipping Norton 1 39.53x
Coates 1 357.14x
Curbridge 1 270.27x
Eastleach Martin 1 1111.11x
Gorleston 1 18.21x
Headington 1 58.82x
Hornsey 1 4.45x
Irchester 1 96.15x
Kencot 1 833.33x
Leamington Priors 1 9.07x
Lower Swell 1 400.00x
Minster Lovell 1 322.58x
Norwood 1 24.63x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 1 185.19x
Oxford St Thomas 1 19.53x
Paddington London 1 1.53x
Royal Navy 1 5.53x
Shipton Under Wychwood 1 140.85x
Tintwistle 1 47.85x
Wandsworth 1 5.85x
Woolvercot 1 222.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 8
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Anne 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Rhoda 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Beatrice 1
Constance 1
Edith 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Hariett 1
Harrett 1
Helen 1
Johanna 1
Katherine 1
Lilly 1
Lotty 1
Luanna 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Mercy 1
Natalie 1
Patience 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Susan 1
Thalestris 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
George 10
William 10
Thomas 9
Charles 7
Frederick 5
James 5
Alfred 4
Richard 4
Edwin 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Chas.Harold 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Henry 1
Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thos.William 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Silman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Silman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Silman surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Silman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016. That gives Silman a modern rank of #14,159.

What does the Silman surname mean?

An English and German surname derived from a place name meaning "dwelling by the willows".

What does the Silman map show?

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