NameCensus.

UK surname

Spelman

An English surname meaning "interpreter" or "orator".

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Spelman surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 504, ranked #9,938, down from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, St Albans and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spelman is 523 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.6%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

504

2016, ranked #9,938

Peak year

2010

523 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spelman had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016, ranked #9,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Spelman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spelman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spelman 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 181 #11,256
1861 historical 238 #10,321
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 286 #11,497
1901 historical 305 #11,525
1911 historical 320 #10,932
1997 modern 483 #9,549
1998 modern 483 #9,853
1999 modern 496 #9,713
2000 modern 508 #9,519
2001 modern 500 #9,464
2002 modern 511 #9,484
2003 modern 508 #9,379
2004 modern 517 #9,288
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 476 #9,836
2007 modern 491 #9,689
2008 modern 485 #9,864
2009 modern 491 #9,999
2010 modern 523 #9,726
2011 modern 503 #9,908
2012 modern 497 #9,902
2013 modern 502 #9,993
2014 modern 503 #10,038
2015 modern 500 #10,009
2016 modern 504 #9,938

Geography

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Where Spelmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, St Albans, South Holland, Broadland and North East Derbyshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 021 Westminster
2 St Albans 018 St Albans
3 South Holland 008 South Holland
4 Broadland 004 Broadland
5 North East Derbyshire 013 North East Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spelman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spelman

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Spelman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Spelman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Spelman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Spelman 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

Spelman falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Spelman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Spelman

The surname Spelman is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "spel" meaning "speech" or "tale," and "mann" meaning "man." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to an orator, storyteller, or someone skilled in public speaking.

The earliest recorded instances of the Spelman surname can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where a Robert Spelman is mentioned. It is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, listing a William Spelman.

In the 15th century, the Spelman surname was associated with several notable individuals. One of the most prominent figures was Sir Henry Spelman (1564-1641), an English antiquary and historian who made significant contributions to the study of English law and antiquities. He is particularly known for his work on the history of tithes and his research on Anglo-Saxon laws and institutions.

Another notable bearer of the Spelman name was Sir John Spelman (1594-1668), the son of Sir Henry Spelman. He was an English politician and member of the Long Parliament during the English Civil War. He initially supported the parliamentary cause but later became a Royalist and was knighted by King Charles I in 1642.

In the 17th century, the Spelman surname gained further prominence with the life of Edward Spelman (1632-1688), an English clergyman and scholar. He served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and was known for his work on the history of the English Church and his involvement in the translation of the Bible into Arabic.

Moving forward to the 18th century, Sir Robert Spelman (1703-1767) was a notable member of the Spelman family. He was an English politician and served as the Member of Parliament for Carlisle from 1727 to 1741.

The Spelman surname has also been associated with various places and locations over time. For instance, the village of Spelman in Norfolk, England, may have derived its name from the surname, although the exact origins of the place name are uncertain.

While the Spelman surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and the historical movement of people. However, this detailed history focuses primarily on the surname's roots and notable bearers in its place of origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spelman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spelman 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. Lancashire leads with 68 Spelmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 68 1.90x
Norfolk 45 9.68x
Durham 36 4.00x
Middlesex 29 0.96x
Yorkshire 29 0.97x
Essex 17 2.85x
Cheshire 15 2.25x
Derbyshire 12 2.53x
Staffordshire 11 1.08x
Lincolnshire 7 1.45x
Suffolk 7 1.90x
Surrey 7 0.48x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 11.42x
Angus 4 1.43x
Berkshire 4 1.76x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.09x
Kent 4 0.39x
Hampshire 2 0.32x
East Lothian 1 2.50x
Fife 1 0.56x
Lanarkshire 1 0.10x
Leicestershire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 41 Spelmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.81x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 41 18.81x
Leeds 13 7.68x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 12 30.80x
Thornley 12 368.10x
Whitechapel London 12 40.25x
Darlington 10 28.79x
Stockport 10 29.11x
Walthanstow 9 909.09x
Norwich St Augustine 8 427.81x
Wolverhampton 8 10.19x
Lambeth 7 2.65x
Manchester 7 4.34x
Great Yarmouth 6 15.58x
Bradfield St George 5 1086.96x
Hoe 5 2500.00x
Troqueer 5 87.11x
West Ham 5 3.79x
Clerkenwell London 4 5.60x
Darley 4 209.42x
East Shefford 4 3333.33x
Eaton St Andrew 4 310.08x
Greenwich 4 8.31x
Heigham 4 16.03x
Liff Benvie 4 9.41x
Litchurch 4 21.00x
Northowram 4 19.04x
St Andrewthe Less 4 18.28x
Sutton St Mary 4 87.53x
Alburgh 3 468.75x
Billingford In Mitford 3 909.09x
Fulham London 3 6.84x
Hook 3 45.52x
Hulme 3 4.00x
Kirkdale 3 4.97x
Norwich St Edmund 3 400.00x
Ovenden 3 22.49x
Over 3 44.25x
Romford 3 31.78x
St George In East 3 14.58x
Widnes 3 11.59x
Yaxham 3 588.24x
Burslem 2 6.84x
Chelsea London 2 2.19x
Glossop Dale 2 9.02x
Mile End Old Town 2 4.19x
Newton 2 7.23x
Southcoates 2 12.02x
Sutton St Mary St James 2 350.88x
Tivetshall St Margaret 2 571.43x
Tudhoe 2 25.41x
Alverstoke 1 4.46x
Beccles 1 16.86x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.76x
Castle Donnington 1 35.97x
Cheetham 1 3.74x
Colne 1 9.35x
Cupar 1 12.85x
Denby 1 69.44x
Derby St Peter 1 6.63x
Dunbar 1 17.79x
East Dereham 1 17.04x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 5.55x
Frodsham Lordship 1 88.50x
Hamilton 1 3.67x
Heap 1 5.25x
Holy Trinity 1 1.39x
Lowton 1 40.98x
Macclesfield 1 3.37x
Norwich St Giles 1 67.11x
Portsea 1 0.82x
Redenhall 1 55.25x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.79x
St Pancras London 1 0.41x
Swanton Morley 1 140.85x
Tanshelf 1 41.84x
Toxteth Park 1 0.82x
Trentham 1 11.52x
West Derby 1 0.95x
Westhorpe 1 454.55x
Yaddlethorpe 1 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Sarah 16
Margaret 12
Ann 8
Alice 7
Elizabeth 7
Bridget 6
Eliza 6
Catherine 5
Ellen 4
Adelaide 3
Elizth. 3
Kate 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Julia 2
Rosa 2
Winifred 2
Amelia 1
Angelina 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Cecelia 1
Cecilia 1
Chin 1
Deborah 1
Dina 1
Elizth 1
Ester 1
Georgianna 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Juliana 1
Mable 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Mgt. 1
Pricilla 1
Rachel 1
Sonia 1
Yakoblye 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 20
Thomas 14
James 12
Patrick 10
Charles 8
Michael 7
Henry 5
Edward 4
Herbert 3
Frederick 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Barnard 1
Clarence 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Frank 1
George 1
Gresham 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jeremiah 1
Jerimiah 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Louis 1
Margaret 1
Martin 1
Mic. 1
Micheal 1
Pat 1
Rae 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Tulum 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Spelman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spelman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Spelman surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spelman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 504 in 2016. That gives Spelman a modern rank of #9,938.

What does the Spelman surname mean?

An English surname meaning "interpreter" or "orator".

What does the Spelman map show?

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