NameCensus.

UK surname

Thorman

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Thormanby, a parish in North Yorkshire.

In the 1881 census there were 113 people recorded with the Thorman surname, ranking it #18,412 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 235, ranked #17,530, up from #18,412 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Llanbeblig, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thorman is 258 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.0%.

1881 census count

113

Ranked #18,412

Modern count

235

2016, ranked #17,530

Peak year

1998

258 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thorman had 113 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,412 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016, ranked #17,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 174 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thorman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thorman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thorman 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 113 #18,412
1891 historical 174 #16,520
1901 historical 149 #18,146
1911 historical 172 #16,408
1997 modern 241 #15,638
1998 modern 258 #15,354
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 243 #16,053
2001 modern 240 #15,912
2002 modern 251 #15,770
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 232 #16,539
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 220 #17,377
2008 modern 218 #17,638
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 220 #18,265
2011 modern 233 #17,426
2012 modern 226 #17,679
2013 modern 240 #17,251
2014 modern 239 #17,429
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 235 #17,530

Geography

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Where Thormans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Llanbeblig, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Llandwrog and Newcastle All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd and Bedford. 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 Llanbeblig Carnarvonshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Llandwrog Carnarvonshire
5 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 006 Gwynedd
2 Bedford 011 Bedford
3 Gwynedd 009 Gwynedd
4 Bedford 007 Bedford
5 Bedford 018 Bedford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thorman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thorman

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

Thorman is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thorman falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Thorman

The surname Thorman is of English origin, derived from a place name. It first appeared in records during the late medieval period, around the 13th century. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "thor" meaning a hill or rocky peak, and "mann" referring to a person or individual. This suggests the name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent hill or rocky outcrop.

Some of the earliest known references to the Thorman name can be found in historical tax records and land surveys from various counties in England. For instance, a Richard Thorman was listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. Additionally, a John Thorman appeared in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1330.

The Thorman surname has also been recorded with various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Thurman, Thormane, and Thoremann. These variations likely arose due to inconsistent spelling practices and regional dialects in different parts of England.

One notable historical figure bearing the Thorman name was William Thorman (1548-1612), an English priest and Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of King James I. Another was Sir Edward Thorman (1634-1701), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1692.

Other examples of individuals with the Thorman surname include John Thorman (1723-1805), a British architect known for his work on several churches in London, and Samuel Thorman (1789-1864), an English engraver and illustrator whose work appeared in numerous books and publications of his time.

While not as widespread as some other English surnames, the Thorman name has persisted throughout the centuries, with records indicating its presence in various regions of England, particularly the southern and eastern counties.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thorman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thorman 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. Durham leads with 22 Thormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.71x.

County Total Index
Durham 22 6.71x
Nottinghamshire 18 12.12x
Caernarfonshire 15 33.65x
Lancashire 13 0.99x
Kent 9 2.39x
Essex 8 3.68x
Middlesex 8 0.73x
Surrey 7 1.30x
Merionethshire 4 19.83x
Cheshire 2 0.82x
Flintshire 2 6.75x
Warwickshire 2 0.72x
Yorkshire 2 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stockton On Tees in Durham leads with 12 Thormans recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.90x.

Place Total Index
Stockton On Tees 12 75.90x
Llandwrog 9 576.92x
Bury 7 46.85x
Nottingham St Mary 7 18.21x
Radford 7 92.72x
Llanbeblig 6 132.74x
Monkwearmouth 6 191.08x
Deptford St Paul 5 17.24x
Leyton 5 133.33x
Camberwell 4 5.68x
Clerkenwell London 4 15.37x
Everton 4 9.59x
Maentwrog 4 1250.00x
Tonbridge 4 29.50x
Arnold 3 138.25x
Croydon 3 10.06x
Leyton Low 3 67.87x
St Giles 3 146.34x
Chester St Oswald 2 45.35x
Leamington Priors 2 29.24x
Richmond 2 116.96x
Salford 2 5.20x
St Marylebone London 2 3.40x
Holywell 1 26.88x
Jesmond 1 43.29x
Snenton 1 17.12x
St Luke London 1 5.66x
St Pancras London 1 1.13x
Westoe 1 5.38x
Whitford 1 64.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 6
Catherine 4
Harriett 4
Jane 4
Florence 3
Sarah 3
Clara 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Adela 1
Agness 1
Annie 1
Ceciala 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Margreat 1
Maude 1
Rebecca 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 8
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Walter 4
Frederick 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Evan 2
Henry 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Julius 1
Robt. 1
Roger 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Geo. 1

FAQ

Thorman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thorman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 113 people were recorded with the Thorman surname. That placed it at #18,412 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thorman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 235 in 2016. That gives Thorman a modern rank of #17,530.

What does the Thorman surname mean?

An English habitational surname referring to someone from Thormanby, a parish in North Yorkshire.

What does the Thorman map show?

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