NameCensus.

UK surname

Steedman

A surname derived from the Old English "stede," meaning steed or horse, and "man," referring to a person who worked with horses.

In the 1881 census there were 776 people recorded with the Steedman surname, ranking it #4,777 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,023, ranked #5,696, down from #4,777 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kippen and Fintry, Bromley and North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Steedman is 1,090 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.8%.

1881 census count

776

Ranked #4,777

Modern count

1,023

2016, ranked #5,696

Peak year

1998

1,090 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Steedman had 776 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,777 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,023 in 2016, ranked #5,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 960 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Steedman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Steedman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Steedman 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 589 #4,340
1861 historical 601 #4,411
1881 historical 776 #4,777
1891 historical 876 #4,696
1901 historical 960 #4,893
1911 historical 445 #8,582
1997 modern 1,048 #5,278
1998 modern 1,090 #5,301
1999 modern 1,090 #5,327
2000 modern 1,084 #5,329
2001 modern 1,052 #5,362
2002 modern 1,080 #5,353
2003 modern 1,071 #5,289
2004 modern 1,048 #5,400
2005 modern 1,053 #5,318
2006 modern 1,040 #5,397
2007 modern 1,057 #5,354
2008 modern 1,053 #5,413
2009 modern 1,071 #5,442
2010 modern 1,072 #5,553
2011 modern 1,051 #5,585
2012 modern 1,019 #5,649
2013 modern 1,030 #5,700
2014 modern 1,046 #5,649
2015 modern 1,026 #5,695
2016 modern 1,023 #5,696

Geography

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Where Steedmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kippen and Fintry, Bromley, North Tyneside, Wiltshire and Lockerbie. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kippen and Fintry Stirling
2 Bromley 009 Bromley
3 North Tyneside 017 North Tyneside
4 Wiltshire 053 Wiltshire
5 Lockerbie Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Steedman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Steedman

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Steedman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Steedman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Steedman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Steedman is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Steedman 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 Steedman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Steedman

The surname Steedman is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Northumberland and Durham. The name is derived from the Old English words "stede," meaning "place" or "farm," and "man," referring to a person. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived or worked on a farm or estate.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Steedman surname can be found in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Northumberland, where a William Stedeman is listed as a landowner. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the Steedman name appeared in various records, including the 1379 Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls, which listed a John Stedeman. During this period, the name was also found in Scotland, with records showing a Robert Steedman in Lanarkshire in 1381.

The Steedman surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir Richard Steedman (1637-1713), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1692. Another notable bearer of the name was John Steedman (1789-1856), a Scottish poet and author known for his works on rural life and Scottish culture.

In the 18th century, the Steedman name was found in various parts of England and Scotland. The 1841 census of England and Wales recorded several Steedman families in counties such as Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Cumberland.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Steedman surname in Scotland can be traced back to the 16th century. In 1546, a John Steedman is mentioned in the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland as a tenant of the lands of Craigmillar in Midlothian.

The Steedman name has also been associated with place names, such as Steedman Place in Glasgow, Scotland, which was likely named after a prominent local figure or landowner.

Throughout history, several individuals with the Steedman surname have made their mark in various fields. These include John Steedman (1809-1876), a Scottish naval architect and shipbuilder; Charles Steedman (1865-1939), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire; and William Steedman (1856-1938), a Scottish farmer and politician who served as a member of parliament for Kincardineshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Steedman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Steedman 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. Midlothian leads with 215 Steedmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.28x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 215 21.28x
Fife 135 30.24x
Middlesex 78 1.03x
Yorkshire 51 0.68x
Angus 38 5.44x
Lanarkshire 35 1.44x
Kent 18 0.70x
Kinross-shire 18 94.44x
Lancashire 15 0.17x
Stirlingshire 14 5.03x
Warwickshire 14 0.74x
Worcestershire 14 1.42x
Nottinghamshire 12 1.18x
Essex 11 0.74x
Shropshire 11 1.69x
West Lothian 10 8.81x
Lincolnshire 9 0.75x
Ayrshire 8 1.42x
East Lothian 8 8.01x
Northumberland 8 0.71x
Surrey 8 0.22x
Clackmannanshire 7 11.24x
Perthshire 7 2.07x
Staffordshire 6 0.24x
Hampshire 5 0.32x
Monmouthshire 5 0.92x
Renfrewshire 3 0.51x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.29x
Berwickshire 2 2.19x
Selkirkshire 2 2.93x
Hertfordshire 1 0.19x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 90 Steedmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.15x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 90 22.15x
St Pancras London 32 5.27x
Auchterderran 21 187.17x
Dunfermline 21 30.59x
South Leith 21 18.47x
Corstorphine 20 359.07x
Islington London 20 2.74x
Brightside Bierlow 15 10.24x
Currie 15 242.72x
Govan 14 2.32x
Kirkcaldy 13 58.72x
Abbotshall 12 71.94x
Cults 11 604.40x
Dundee 11 4.22x
Glasgow 11 2.54x
Barony 10 1.62x
Liberton 10 64.14x
Aston Cum Aughton 9 147.30x
Cupar 9 46.37x
Edinburgh Canongate 9 35.01x
Cleish 8 620.16x
Falkirk 8 12.29x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 9.85x
Colinton 7 62.17x
Dysart 7 23.29x
Ercall Magna 7 150.21x
Falkland 7 99.72x
Kinross 7 107.03x
Lochee 7 112.36x
Strathmiglo 7 131.09x
West Ham 7 2.13x
Yardley 7 27.79x
Alloa 6 19.87x
Batley 6 8.45x
Bromsgrove 6 18.11x
Edinburgh St Andrews 6 71.94x
Mains 6 101.01x
St Marylebone London 6 1.49x
Birmingham 5 0.79x
Brechin 5 18.21x
Burntisland 5 40.06x
Edinburgh Greenside 5 37.45x
Hammersmith London 5 2.69x
Inveresk 5 18.28x
Lewisham 5 3.64x
Logie 5 495.05x
Markinch 5 33.00x
Meriden 5 231.48x
Panteg 5 58.28x
Ripley 5 617.28x
Stirling 5 14.26x
Torphichen 5 126.58x
Tranent 5 37.06x
Tulliallan 5 87.11x
Aston 4 0.76x
Barrow In Furness 4 3.29x
Collessie 4 77.82x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 20.12x
Harborne 4 4.90x
Holdenhurst 4 9.87x
Holy Trinity 4 2.23x
Lambeth 4 0.61x
Lasswade 4 17.32x
Monifieth 4 16.21x
Penicuik 4 29.13x
Sturton 4 291.97x
Wellington 4 10.93x
Abercorn 3 133.33x
Ardrossan 3 15.36x
Arngask 3 212.77x
Bulphan 3 410.96x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.51x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 3 42.86x
Edinburgh St Marys 3 15.27x
Harewood 3 162.16x
Haxey 3 58.59x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 4.48x
Snenton 3 7.51x
Ulceby 3 102.39x
Woolwich 3 3.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 12
George 11
John 10
Henry 9
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Thomas 6
Frank 4
James 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Obadiah 2
Samuel 2
Wilfred 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Benj. 1
Bertie 1
Cephas 1
D.M. 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Goerge 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jas.T. 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Ninan 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Syme 1
Thos.C. 1
Tom 1
Vernon 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Steedman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Steedman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 776 people were recorded with the Steedman surname. That placed it at #4,777 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Steedman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,023 in 2016. That gives Steedman a modern rank of #5,696.

What does the Steedman surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "stede," meaning steed or horse, and "man," referring to a person who worked with horses.

What does the Steedman map show?

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