NameCensus.

UK surname

Steadman

An English occupational surname referring to a person who tended or managed horses, derived from "stede" meaning "stud farm."

In the 1881 census there were 1,852 people recorded with the Steadman surname, ranking it #2,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,759, ranked #1,804, up from #2,357 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and St Matthew Bethnal Green. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, East Lindsey and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Steadman is 3,881 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 103.0%.

1881 census count

1,852

Ranked #2,357

Modern count

3,759

2016, ranked #1,804

Peak year

2014

3,881 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Steadman had 1,852 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,357 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,759 in 2016, ranked #1,804.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,735 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Steadman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Steadman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Steadman 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 927 #2,980
1861 historical 973 #2,856
1881 historical 1,852 #2,357
1891 historical 2,046 #2,258
1901 historical 2,735 #2,032
1911 historical 2,632 #1,957
1997 modern 3,596 #1,800
1998 modern 3,750 #1,797
1999 modern 3,792 #1,792
2000 modern 3,763 #1,791
2001 modern 3,683 #1,793
2002 modern 3,753 #1,807
2003 modern 3,692 #1,794
2004 modern 3,654 #1,814
2005 modern 3,598 #1,814
2006 modern 3,594 #1,818
2007 modern 3,654 #1,801
2008 modern 3,674 #1,801
2009 modern 3,797 #1,790
2010 modern 3,849 #1,806
2011 modern 3,837 #1,790
2012 modern 3,784 #1,777
2013 modern 3,849 #1,782
2014 modern 3,881 #1,770
2015 modern 3,818 #1,779
2016 modern 3,759 #1,804

Geography

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Where Steadmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, East Lindsey, Wolverhampton and Halton. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 007 Eden
2 East Lindsey 007 East Lindsey
3 East Lindsey 011 East Lindsey
4 Wolverhampton 033 Wolverhampton
5 Halton 004 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Steadman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Steadman

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Steadman, 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 Steadman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Steadman 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Steadman is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Steadman is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Steadman 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 Steadman 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 Steadman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Steadman

The surname Steadman is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as an occupational name, derived from the Old English words "stede" meaning "place" or "farm," and "mann" meaning "man." The combination of these words suggests that the name referred to someone who worked on or managed a farm or estate.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Steadman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Stedeman" in this historical document, indicating its presence in the region during the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Steadman surname was predominantly found in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. This suggests that the name may have originated in the West Midlands region of England, where many early bearers of the surname were likely employed as farm workers or estate managers.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the surname has undergone various transformations, including variations like Stedman, Steademan, and Stedeman. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping practices during earlier times.

One notable figure with the surname Steadman was John Steadman, an English author and playwright who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is best known for his work "The Arrant Knave," a satirical play published in 1609.

Another prominent individual bearing the Steadman surname was Thomas Steadman, an English engraver and illustrator who lived from 1736 to 1805. He was renowned for his intricate engravings and illustrations, many of which were featured in various publications of his time.

In the 19th century, Walter Steadman (1808-1876) made his mark as an English architect and surveyor. He was responsible for the design and construction of several notable buildings, including St. Mary's Church in Handsworth, Birmingham.

Ralph Steadman, born in 1936, is a renowned British cartoonist and illustrator, best known for his collaborations with the writer Hunter S. Thompson. His distinctive and often grotesque style has earned him widespread acclaim and recognition in the world of satirical and political illustration.

Lastly, Philip Steadman, born in 1942, is a British architect, academic, and author. He has made significant contributions to the fields of architectural history and theory, and his works have explored the intersection of architecture, science, and technology.

While the Steadman surname may have humble origins as an occupational name associated with farm work and estate management, it has been carried by individuals who have made lasting contributions across various fields, from literature and art to architecture and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Steadman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Steadman 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 265 Steadmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.47x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 265 1.47x
Surrey 199 2.27x
Staffordshire 158 2.60x
Yorkshire 127 0.71x
Sussex 105 3.46x
Kent 94 1.53x
Lancashire 94 0.44x
Warwickshire 73 1.61x
Shropshire 67 4.31x
Worcestershire 65 2.77x
Durham 60 1.12x
Midlothian 48 1.99x
Westmorland 46 11.64x
Essex 39 1.10x
Derbyshire 38 1.35x
Cambridgeshire 36 3.16x
Hampshire 35 0.95x
Lanarkshire 35 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 29 1.20x
Wiltshire 26 1.64x
Herefordshire 23 3.12x
Gloucestershire 21 0.60x
Lincolnshire 17 0.59x
Flintshire 14 2.90x
Glamorgan 13 0.42x
Somerset 12 0.41x
Leicestershire 11 0.55x
Dorset 10 0.85x
Ayrshire 9 0.67x
Cheshire 9 0.23x
Radnorshire 8 5.52x
Fife 7 0.66x
Monmouthshire 7 0.54x
Devon 6 0.16x
Norfolk 6 0.22x
Suffolk 5 0.23x
Cardiganshire 4 0.91x
Berkshire 3 0.22x
Hertfordshire 2 0.16x
Northamptonshire 2 0.12x
Northumberland 2 0.07x
Peeblesshire 2 2.37x
Selkirkshire 2 1.23x
Brecknockshire 1 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Cumberland 1 0.06x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.38x
Morayshire 1 0.36x
Perthshire 1 0.12x
Roxburghshire 1 0.31x
Stirlingshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 43 Steadmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.85x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 43 2.85x
Camberwell 30 2.61x
Kensington London 30 3.00x
Bethnal Green London 27 3.46x
Wolverhampton 26 5.57x
Ollerton 24 477.14x
Aston 22 1.76x
Bermondsey 22 4.11x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 2.27x
West Ham 22 2.81x
Islington London 21 1.21x
Walsall Foreign 21 6.70x
Warminster 20 57.41x
Condover 19 173.67x
Hackney London 18 1.79x
Battersea 17 2.57x
Glasgow 17 1.65x
Liverpool 17 1.31x
Soham 16 65.28x
Doncaster 15 11.52x
Dudley 15 5.26x
Dalkeith 14 29.46x
Derby St Werburgh 14 8.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 2.18x
Shoreditch London 13 1.67x
Westoe 13 4.29x
Alverstoke 12 9.00x
Brightside Bierlow 12 3.43x
Middlesbrough 12 5.17x
Rotherhithe 12 5.40x
Spitalfields London 12 8.87x
Stafford St Mary 12 13.97x
Appleby St Lawrence 11 122.22x
Bexley 11 20.28x
Bow London 11 4.81x
Brighton 11 1.80x
Chelsea London 11 2.03x
Kirkdale 11 3.07x
Leicester St Margaret 11 2.26x
St Pancras London 11 0.76x
Toxteth Park 11 1.52x
Wolstanton Thursfield 11 149.25x
Clerkenwell London 10 2.36x
Epsom 10 23.42x
Esh 10 25.69x
Eynsford 10 95.06x
Fordham 10 136.05x
Kingston On Thames 10 4.75x
Lambeth 10 0.64x
Lewes St Ann 10 96.90x
Melcombe Regis 10 20.45x
Mold 10 22.82x
Poplar London 10 2.95x
Sedgley 10 4.44x
Westbury On Trym 10 8.37x
Asby 9 295.08x
Balcombe 9 166.36x
Cobham 9 62.59x
Grendon Bishop 9 873.79x
Hollingbourn 9 127.12x
Llanguick 9 16.05x
Pontesbury 9 47.64x
Willenhall 9 7.92x
Bath St Michael 8 54.72x
Birkenhead 8 2.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 2.36x
Dawdon 8 12.16x
Dundonald 8 16.13x
Fulham London 8 3.07x
Hemingby 8 323.89x
Lenham 8 65.36x
Litchurch 8 7.06x
Liversedge 8 10.09x
Mirfield 8 8.18x
Pemberton 8 9.41x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 8 9.67x
Stoke 8 19.35x
Kingswinford 7 3.18x
Lewisham 7 2.14x
St Marylebone London 7 0.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 113
Elizabeth 66
Sarah 50
Ann 40
Jane 39
Emma 31
Alice 29
Annie 24
Charlotte 24
Eliza 24
Ellen 20
Emily 19
Hannah 19
Harriet 19
Louisa 19
Maria 16
Fanny 14
Florence 14
Margaret 14
Caroline 12
Clara 11
Lucy 11
Agnes 10
Edith 10
Kate 10
Martha 10
Harriett 9
Gertrude 8
Ada 7
Catherine 6
Jessie 6
Susan 6
Anne 5
Elizth. 5
Rosa 5
Rose 5
Frances 4
Isabella 4
Julia 4
Lydia 4
Priscilla 4
Rebecca 4
Adelaide 3
Amy 3
Grace 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Olive 3
Rachel 3
Selina 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 110
John 95
George 76
Thomas 68
James 55
Henry 44
Joseph 34
Charles 33
Alfred 23
Edward 21
Richard 16
Walter 16
Arthur 13
Frederick 13
Robert 13
Samuel 10
Ernest 8
Harry 8
Stephen 8
Frank 7
Edwin 6
Christopher 5
Francis 5
Thos. 5
Wm. 5
Abraham 4
Albert 4
David 4
Matthew 4
Sidney 4
Chas. 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Peter 3
Aaron 2
Abram 2
Benjamin 2
Caleb 2
Edwd. 2
Ellis 2
Horace 2
Leonard 2
Magor 2
Mark 2
Mathw. 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Tom 2
Wade 2
Wm.Jas. 2

FAQ

Steadman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Steadman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,852 people were recorded with the Steadman surname. That placed it at #2,357 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Steadman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,759 in 2016. That gives Steadman a modern rank of #1,804.

What does the Steadman surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who tended or managed horses, derived from "stede" meaning "stud farm."

What does the Steadman map show?

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