NameCensus.

UK surname

Stearman

An occupational surname meaning one who worked with animal fats, oils, or tallow.

In the 1881 census there were 234 people recorded with the Stearman surname, ranking it #11,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 344, ranked #13,347, down from #11,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, North Lincolnshire and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stearman is 352 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.0%.

1881 census count

234

Ranked #11,607

Modern count

344

2016, ranked #13,347

Peak year

2002

352 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stearman had 234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 344 in 2016, ranked #13,347.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 320 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stearman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stearman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stearman 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 145 #15,715
1881 historical 234 #11,607
1891 historical 287 #11,473
1901 historical 294 #11,805
1911 historical 320 #10,932
1997 modern 336 #12,549
1998 modern 343 #12,707
1999 modern 346 #12,726
2000 modern 347 #12,642
2001 modern 347 #12,449
2002 modern 352 #12,557
2003 modern 339 #12,714
2004 modern 348 #12,495
2005 modern 351 #12,343
2006 modern 338 #12,779
2007 modern 342 #12,809
2008 modern 341 #12,958
2009 modern 342 #13,193
2010 modern 345 #13,370
2011 modern 338 #13,435
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 333 #13,682
2014 modern 331 #13,851
2015 modern 340 #13,455
2016 modern 344 #13,347

Geography

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Where Stearmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Hove and Walsingham, Little. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, North Lincolnshire, Breckland, East Cambridgeshire and Broadland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Hove Sussex
5 Walsingham, Little Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 008 North Norfolk
2 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
3 Breckland 002 Breckland
4 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
5 Broadland 001 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stearman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stearman

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Stearman 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

Stearman 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

Stearman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stearman 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 Stearman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Stearman

The surname Stearman is of English origin, derived from an occupation associated with the management or handling of steers, which were male cattle or oxen used for plowing and agricultural work. It is believed to have emerged during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century, when surnames based on occupations became common.

One of the earliest known recordings of the name Stearman can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Thomas le Sterreman." This spelling variation highlights the name's connection to the Old English word "steor," meaning a steer or bullock.

In the late 14th century, the surname was recorded in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire as "Henricus Stereman" in 1379. This further reinforces the name's association with the occupation of managing steers or oxen used for farming and transportation.

The Stearman surname has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Stearsby in Yorkshire and Stearman's Bridge in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Stearman surname who resided in or had connections to those locations.

Notable individuals with the surname Stearman throughout history include:

1. Robert Stearman (c. 1590-1663), an English clergyman and early settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who served as the minister of the First Parish Church in Salem.

2. John Stearman (1707-1781), a prominent English architect responsible for designing several churches and buildings in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

3. Sarah Stearman (1770-1858), an English Quaker and abolitionist who campaigned against slavery and the slave trade.

4. Walter Stearman (1892-1918), a British World War I flying ace credited with 26 aerial victories before being killed in action.

5. Lloyd Stearman (1898-1975), an American aircraft designer and manufacturer, best known for the iconic Stearman biplanes used extensively as primary trainers during World War II.

While the Stearman surname may have evolved from its occupational roots, it has left a lasting legacy through the contributions of various individuals bearing this name throughout history, spanning fields such as religion, architecture, social activism, aviation, and more.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stearman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stearman 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. Norfolk leads with 105 Stearmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.92x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 105 29.92x
Durham 44 6.48x
Surrey 23 2.07x
Middlesex 18 0.79x
Northumberland 11 3.24x
Sussex 10 2.60x
Essex 7 1.55x
Lincolnshire 6 1.64x
Warwickshire 5 0.87x
Suffolk 3 1.08x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 23 Stearmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.24x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 23 45.24x
Sall 13 8666.67x
Camberwell 11 7.54x
Brandon Parva 9 6923.08x
Cawston 8 930.23x
Marsham 8 1860.47x
Preston 8 119.05x
Reepham With Kerdiston 8 1951.22x
Tanfield 8 99.13x
Aylsham 6 287.08x
Chester Le Street 6 115.16x
Gosberton 6 370.37x
Great Fransham 6 2307.69x
Bethnal Green London 5 5.04x
Burnham Overy 5 1041.67x
Colchester St James 5 273.22x
Little Walsingham 5 632.91x
Wandsworth 5 22.76x
Bothal Demesne 4 245.40x
Heigham 4 21.23x
Lambeth 4 2.01x
Paddington London 4 4.77x
Westgate 4 19.02x
Wood Dalling 4 1052.63x
Battersea 3 3.57x
Bedlington 3 26.46x
Blakeney 3 476.19x
Brailes 3 340.91x
Heworth 3 22.42x
Ingworth 3 2727.27x
Stockton On Tees 3 9.17x
Wells Next Sea 3 146.34x
Catton 2 338.98x
Hackney London 2 1.56x
Hardingham 2 487.80x
Harwich St Nicholas 2 57.47x
Islington London 2 0.90x
Lowestoft 2 15.23x
Poplar London 2 4.64x
Runhall 2 1333.33x
Runham 2 285.71x
Bedingfield 1 384.62x
Birmingham 1 0.52x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.72x
Brighton 1 1.29x
Feltwell 1 147.06x
Frettenham 1 588.24x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.44x
Haddiscoe 1 322.58x
Hampstead London 1 2.81x
Hevingham 1 166.67x
Hove 1 5.92x
Kensington London 1 0.79x
Lingwood 1 322.58x
Norwich St Clement 1 24.57x
Norwich St George Colegate 1 78.13x
Norwich St Mary In Marsh 1 256.41x
Norwich St Stephen 1 31.06x
Pudding Norton 1 3333.33x
St George Hanover 1 3.36x
Stoke Ferry 1 188.68x
Sutton Under Brailes 1 714.29x
West Derby 1 1.26x
Worcester St Nicholas 1 70.92x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 17
William 17
James 14
Robert 11
Thomas 10
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Walter 5
Herbert 4
John 4
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Barnabas 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
David 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk 1
Harry 1
Jubay 1
Matthew 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Stearman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stearman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 234 people were recorded with the Stearman surname. That placed it at #11,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stearman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 344 in 2016. That gives Stearman a modern rank of #13,347.

What does the Stearman surname mean?

An occupational surname meaning one who worked with animal fats, oils, or tallow.

What does the Stearman map show?

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