NameCensus.

UK surname

Stoneman

An occupational surname referring to a mason or worker who built with stone.

In the 1881 census there were 1,210 people recorded with the Stoneman surname, ranking it #3,337 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,562, ranked #3,966, down from #3,337 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Illogan and Chagford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Devon, North Devon and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stoneman is 1,737 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.1%.

1881 census count

1,210

Ranked #3,337

Modern count

1,562

2016, ranked #3,966

Peak year

1911

1,737 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stoneman had 1,210 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,337 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,562 in 2016, ranked #3,966.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,737 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stoneman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stoneman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Stoneman 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 771 #3,468
1861 historical 817 #3,370
1881 historical 1,210 #3,337
1891 historical 1,393 #3,124
1901 historical 1,554 #3,313
1911 historical 1,737 #2,826
1997 modern 1,570 #3,756
1998 modern 1,633 #3,764
1999 modern 1,631 #3,801
2000 modern 1,608 #3,836
2001 modern 1,587 #3,806
2002 modern 1,604 #3,841
2003 modern 1,581 #3,807
2004 modern 1,532 #3,931
2005 modern 1,489 #3,986
2006 modern 1,515 #3,936
2007 modern 1,498 #4,003
2008 modern 1,549 #3,903
2009 modern 1,595 #3,889
2010 modern 1,617 #3,918
2011 modern 1,589 #3,930
2012 modern 1,550 #3,961
2013 modern 1,576 #3,968
2014 modern 1,602 #3,935
2015 modern 1,575 #3,954
2016 modern 1,562 #3,966

Geography

Back to top

Where Stonemans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Illogan, Chagford, London parishes and Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Devon, North Devon and West Devon. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Chagford Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Devon 004 Mid Devon
2 North Devon 014 North Devon
3 Mid Devon 002 Mid Devon
4 West Devon 001 West Devon
5 Mid Devon 005 Mid Devon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Stoneman

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Stoneman

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

Stoneman is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Stoneman

The surname Stoneman originated in England during the medieval period, likely between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is derived from the Old English words "stan" meaning stone and "mann" meaning man, indicating that the name's earliest bearers were likely involved in occupations related to stone masonry or quarrying.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stoneman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where a certain William Stoneman is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 also reference a John Stoneman.

The name Stoneman may have originated from various place names in England, such as Stoneman's Cross in Somerset or Stoneman's Green in Hertfordshire. These place names likely referred to locations where stonemasons or quarrymen lived or worked.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Stoneman appeared in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 and the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379.

Notable individuals with the surname Stoneman throughout history include:

1. Sir James Stoneman (c. 1472-1529), an English lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer. 2. George Stoneman (1822-1894), a United States Army cavalry officer who fought in the American Civil War and later served as the 15th Governor of California. 3. John Stoneman (1856-1936), a British Olympic athlete who won a silver medal in the tug of war event at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. 4. Merritt Stoneman (1882-1962), an American film director and producer active during the silent film era. 5. Marjorie Stoneman Douglas (1890-1998), an American conservationist and writer who played a pivotal role in protecting the Everglades in Florida.

The surname Stoneman has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to occupational and geographical origins in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Stoneman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stoneman 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. Devon leads with 668 Stonemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.92x.

County Total Index
Devon 668 26.92x
Middlesex 131 1.10x
Cornwall 125 9.26x
Surrey 86 1.48x
Glamorgan 30 1.45x
Gloucestershire 25 1.07x
Lancashire 24 0.17x
Kent 17 0.42x
Somerset 16 0.83x
Monmouthshire 15 1.74x
Cheshire 10 0.38x
Durham 10 0.28x
Lincolnshire 10 0.52x
Cumberland 9 0.88x
Channel Islands 8 2.26x
Essex 8 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.31x
Royal Navy 5 3.52x
Sussex 4 0.20x
Yorkshire 4 0.03x
Hampshire 3 0.12x
Suffolk 2 0.14x
Warwickshire 2 0.07x
Worcestershire 2 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Tawton in Devon leads with 57 Stonemans recorded in 1881 and an index of 748.03x.

Place Total Index
North Tawton 57 748.03x
Chagford 56 942.76x
Illogan 42 117.55x
Plymouth St Andrew 42 21.97x
Lambeth 37 3.56x
Exeter St Sidwell 25 43.99x
Luxulyan 21 467.71x
Hackney London 20 2.99x
Tormoham 20 19.05x
Stoke Damerel 19 10.94x
Kenn 17 440.41x
Plymouth Charles The 17 15.55x
Tiverton 17 39.78x
Newton Abbot St Mary 15 72.08x
Lapford 14 578.51x
East Stonehouse 13 26.60x
Exeter St David 13 61.32x
Islington London 13 1.13x
North Molton 13 268.60x
Okehampton 13 138.89x
Shoreditch London 13 2.52x
Buckland Brewer 12 397.35x
Bermondsey 11 3.10x
Camberwell 11 1.44x
Chelsea London 11 3.06x
Clerkenwell London 11 3.91x
Exeter Heavitree 11 59.46x
Monkleigh 11 500.00x
Clee With Weelsby 10 23.96x
Ermington 10 110.74x
Everton 10 2.22x
Kensington London 10 1.51x
Lamesley 10 52.38x
St Woollos 10 10.40x
Werrington 10 373.13x
Bishopsteignton 9 191.49x
Colebrooke 9 311.42x
Holy Trinity 9 172.74x
St Ives 9 34.08x
St Stephens By Saltash 9 154.91x
Woodbury 9 122.28x
Exeter St Leonard 8 117.82x
Plympton St Mary 8 55.79x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 8 26.44x
Reigate Foreign 8 12.72x
St Helier 8 6.96x
Cheltenham 7 3.88x
Croydon 7 2.17x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 27.68x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 7 16.36x
Great Torrington 7 49.75x
Kingsbridge 7 112.18x
Llanharan 7 327.10x
Marland Peters 7 648.15x
Mile End Old Town 7 3.72x
Moreton Hampstead 7 109.20x
North Huish 7 472.97x
Roath 7 7.43x
Taunton St James 7 25.02x
Thorverton 7 185.68x
Throwleigh 7 542.64x
Aberdare 6 4.21x
Bow 6 180.18x
Bow London 6 3.95x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 6 190.48x
Clist Honiton 6 487.80x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 6 84.27x
Kirkdale 6 2.52x
Morchard Bishop 6 115.83x
Paddington London 6 1.37x
Rackenford 6 405.41x
Sampford Courtenay 6 161.73x
St Mary Magdalene 6 60.48x
St Paul Covent Garden 6 50.29x
Barnstaple 5 12.84x
Dodbrooke 5 101.42x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.20x
St Germans 5 53.14x
Tonbridge 5 3.41x
Upton Pyne 5 301.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 99
Elizabeth 74
Sarah 40
Eliza 30
Emma 25
Annie 21
Jane 21
Ann 19
Susan 16
Ellen 15
Emily 15
Alice 14
Louisa 11
Ada 9
Edith 9
Bessie 8
Harriet 8
Jessie 8
Maria 8
Martha 8
Florence 7
Grace 7
Agnes 5
Charlotte 5
Margaret 5
Minnie 5
Selina 5
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Lucy 4
Rosina 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Betsy 3
Charity 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Kezia 3
Loveday 3
Margt. 3
Marian 3
Maude 3
Rhoda 3
Susanna 3
Bertha 2
Fanny 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 97
John 79
George 47
James 44
Richard 41
Thomas 37
Henry 24
Charles 19
Frederick 18
Edward 11
Albert 10
Robert 10
Arthur 8
Samuel 8
Christopher 7
Alfred 6
Francis 6
Frank 6
Joseph 6
Philip 5
Edwin 4
Sidney 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Jonas 3
Augustus 2
Bernard 2
Edmund 2
Frederic 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Josiah 2
Phillip 2
Simon 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Arther 1
Carry 1
Charlie 1
Fred.John 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.J. 1
Geo.Thomas 1
Jonathon 1
Josias 1
Leonard 1
Maria 1
Mark 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Stoneman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stoneman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,210 people were recorded with the Stoneman surname. That placed it at #3,337 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stoneman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,562 in 2016. That gives Stoneman a modern rank of #3,966.

What does the Stoneman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a mason or worker who built with stone.

What does the Stoneman map show?

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