NameCensus.

UK surname

Stillman

An occupational surname referring to a distiller or someone who operates a still to make alcoholic beverages.

In the 1881 census there were 314 people recorded with the Stillman surname, ranking it #9,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 388, ranked #12,133, down from #9,417 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Heston, Newbury and Trowbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, The Vale of Glamorgan and Crawley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stillman is 482 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.6%.

1881 census count

314

Ranked #9,417

Modern count

388

2016, ranked #12,133

Peak year

1901

482 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stillman had 314 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,417 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016, ranked #12,133.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 482 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Stillman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stillman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stillman 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 157 #12,504
1861 historical 147 #15,539
1881 historical 314 #9,417
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 482 #8,275
1911 historical 476 #8,124
1997 modern 441 #10,231
1998 modern 442 #10,547
1999 modern 446 #10,513
2000 modern 437 #10,684
2001 modern 424 #10,740
2002 modern 430 #10,840
2003 modern 415 #10,962
2004 modern 395 #11,390
2005 modern 378 #11,692
2006 modern 376 #11,775
2007 modern 383 #11,751
2008 modern 388 #11,745
2009 modern 403 #11,659
2010 modern 423 #11,470
2011 modern 415 #11,514
2012 modern 400 #11,726
2013 modern 406 #11,790
2014 modern 405 #11,880
2015 modern 402 #11,861
2016 modern 388 #12,133

Geography

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Where Stillmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Heston, Newbury, Trowbridge and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, The Vale of Glamorgan, Crawley and Skye North East. 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 Heston Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Newbury Berkshire
3 Trowbridge Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 013 Neath Port Talbot
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan
3 The Vale of Glamorgan 013 Vale of Glamorgan
4 Crawley 002 Crawley
5 Skye North East Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stillman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stillman

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Stillman 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

Stillman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Stillman

The surname Stillman originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "stille" meaning calm or quiet, and "mann" meaning man. It was an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a distiller or brewer, a trade that required a steady hand and a calm demeanor.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Stilman" in Kent. Over time, various spellings emerged, such as Stilman, Stillman, and Stileman, reflecting regional dialects and the inconsistencies of medieval record-keeping.

In the 13th century, a Stillman family was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, indicating their presence in the area. The name also appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1230, where a Roger Stillman was mentioned.

One notable bearer of the name was John Stillman (c.1360-1425), a prominent merchant and Member of Parliament for Maldon, Essex, in the early 15th century. He played a role in the wool trade and was influential in local affairs.

Another early recorded individual was William Stillman (c.1470-1535), a Catholic priest and theologian from Ipswich, Suffolk. He was known for his writings on religious matters during the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, Samuel Stillman (1737-1807) was a influential Baptist minister and educator in New England. He played a significant role in the establishment of religious freedom in the newly formed United States.

During the 19th century, John Deane Stillman (1819-1888) was a prominent American lawyer and politician from New York. He served as a member of the New York State Assembly and was involved in various legal and business ventures.

Another notable figure was Charles Stillman (1810-1875), an American businessman and inventor from Massachusetts. He patented several improvements to the telegraph and was involved in the early development of the industry.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Stillman throughout history, illustrating its English origins and the diverse paths taken by those who carried this name across various fields and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stillman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stillman 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 69 Stillmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.25x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 69 2.25x
Berkshire 42 18.27x
Surrey 37 2.48x
Essex 31 5.13x
Wiltshire 28 10.34x
Somerset 25 5.07x
Kent 19 1.82x
Derbyshire 8 1.67x
Devon 8 1.25x
Monmouthshire 8 3.61x
Hampshire 7 1.12x
Dorset 6 2.98x
Glamorgan 6 1.13x
Buckinghamshire 4 2.16x
Hertfordshire 4 1.89x
Gloucestershire 3 0.50x
Durham 2 0.22x
Herefordshire 2 1.59x
Worcestershire 2 0.50x
Bedfordshire 1 0.63x
Fife 1 0.55x
Northumberland 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newbury in Berkshire leads with 28 Stillmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 380.43x.

Place Total Index
Newbury 28 380.43x
Westbury 15 237.34x
Camberwell 12 6.13x
Prittlewell 11 131.26x
Frome 10 84.82x
Hendon 10 90.74x
Deptford St Paul 9 11.17x
Heston 9 88.50x
Speen 9 239.36x
Trowbridge 9 75.19x
Kensington London 8 4.70x
Battersea 7 6.21x
Hornchurch 7 236.49x
Bermondsey 6 6.58x
Christchurch 6 87.59x
Islington London 6 2.02x
Llandaff 6 33.82x
Shoreditch London 6 4.52x
Belper 5 53.76x
Cranborne 5 205.76x
Paddington London 5 4.44x
Rotherhithe 5 13.21x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 8.11x
Bromley London 4 5.94x
Greenwich 4 8.20x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 8.15x
St Bartholomew Hyde 4 266.67x
St Marylebone London 4 2.45x
Tillingham 4 373.83x
Bishops Hull 3 188.68x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 5.30x
Cheriton 3 70.42x
Derby St Werburgh 3 10.83x
Eltham 3 49.02x
Great Warley 3 218.98x
North Mimms 3 225.56x
St Pancras London 3 1.22x
Swindon 3 14.28x
Twerton 3 59.06x
Upton Cum Chalvey 3 40.65x
Wanstead 3 28.33x
Winscombe 3 225.56x
Acton 2 11.14x
Bathwick 2 36.63x
Bedwellty 2 5.12x
Breinton 2 408.16x
Great Malvern 2 23.95x
Kingswear 2 392.16x
Kintbury 2 112.36x
Mile End Old Town 2 4.14x
New Windsor 2 25.87x
Ramsden Crays 2 833.33x
St Clement Danes 2 40.32x
St George Hanover 2 5.00x
Abbotshall 1 14.77x
Beckington 1 103.09x
Bishop Auckland 1 8.18x
Breamore 1 169.49x
Chiselborough 1 263.16x
Cookham 1 13.95x
Croydon 1 1.21x
East Stonehouse 1 7.96x
Holdenhurst 1 6.07x
Maiden Newton 1 119.05x
Marlborough St Peter St 1 71.94x
Meavy 1 333.33x
Sharnbrook 1 113.64x
Southminster 1 75.19x
St Albans 1 23.09x
St Andrew Holborn 1 9.63x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 23.92x
St George In East 1 4.80x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.45x
St Michael Winchester 1 78.13x
Stranton 1 3.26x
Twickenham 1 7.62x
Westgate 1 3.54x
Westminster St 1 8.86x
Wycombe 1 7.25x
Yeovil 1 9.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 13
Emily 8
Annie 7
Jane 7
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Ada 4
Martha 4
Clara 3
Kate 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Maria 2
Bertha 1
Clare 1
Clorinda 1
Dinah 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gerterlode 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Heneratta 1
Henrietta 1
Jemiama 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Lillie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Marian 1
Maud 1
May 1
Meriam 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 13
John 12
Thomas 11
Henry 8
James 8
Arthur 7
Charles 7
Albert 5
Frederick 4
Alfred 3
Chas. 3
Frank 3
Walter 3
Augustus 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Aaron 1
Adolphus 1
Andrew 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Harry 1
Headley 1
Herbert 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Maud 1
Purver 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thoms 1
Tom 1
Weymouth 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Stillman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stillman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 314 people were recorded with the Stillman surname. That placed it at #9,417 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stillman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 388 in 2016. That gives Stillman a modern rank of #12,133.

What does the Stillman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a distiller or someone who operates a still to make alcoholic beverages.

What does the Stillman map show?

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