NameCensus.

UK surname

Ullman

Derived from the German occupational surname Ullmann, meaning "wool man" or someone who worked with wool.

In the 1881 census there were 22 people recorded with the Ullman surname, ranking it #30,464 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, up from #30,464 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chiltern, Mid Suffolk and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ullman is 110 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 400.0%.

1881 census count

22

Ranked #30,464

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

2014

110 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ullman had 22 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,464 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 32 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ullman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ullman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ullman 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 22 #30,464
1891 historical 30 #31,889
1901 historical 32 #30,501
1911 historical 21 #31,179
1997 modern 88 #28,611
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 93 #28,920
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 110 #29,157
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Ullmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chiltern, Mid Suffolk, Lambeth, Central Bedfordshire and East Hampshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chiltern 013 Chiltern
2 Mid Suffolk 004 Mid Suffolk
3 Lambeth 036 Lambeth
4 Central Bedfordshire 031 Central Bedfordshire
5 East Hampshire 006 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ullman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ullman

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Ullman is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ullman is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ullman

The surname ULLMAN originates from Germany, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old German word "ulna," meaning elbow or forearm. The name likely referred to a physical characteristic or occupation involving the use of the forearm, such as a weaver or a miller.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Brandenburg, Germany, dated around 1280. The name is spelled "Ulmann" in these records.

In the 14th century, the surname is found in various parts of central and southern Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg. Variations in spelling include Ulman, Ullmann, and Uhlmann.

The Ullman surname is also associated with several notable historical figures. One example is Johann Ullmann (1617-1672), a German theologian and professor at the University of Leipzig. Another is Philipp Ludwig Ullmann (1742-1807), a German jurist and author of legal texts.

In the 18th century, the surname appears in records from Switzerland, where it is sometimes spelled "Ulmann." One notable Swiss bearer of the name was Johann Rudolf Ullmann (1756-1835), a politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council.

The 19th century saw the Ullman surname spread to other parts of Europe and beyond. In England, there was Sir Charles Ullmann (1817-1897), a businessman and philanthropist who was knighted for his contributions to the textile industry.

Another prominent figure was Max Ullmann (1874-1944), an Austrian-born chemist who made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry and was a professor at the University of Greifswald in Germany.

In the United States, the Ullman surname appears in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often associated with German and Swiss immigrants. One example is Benjamin Ullmann (1861-1939), a German-born American businessman and philanthropist who founded the company that later became the Ullman Sewing Machine Company.

Throughout its history, the Ullman surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including academics, scientists, businesspeople, and politicians, reflecting its widespread presence across various regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ullman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ullman 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. Surrey leads with 7 Ullmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.70x.

County Total Index
Surrey 7 6.70x
Devon 6 13.44x
Middlesex 5 2.33x
Lancashire 4 1.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 7 Ullmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.72x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 7 109.72x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 174.42x
Hampstead London 4 119.76x
Liverpool 4 25.89x
Paddington London 1 12.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Ceicly 1
Charlotte 1
Deborah 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Estella 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Benj. 1
Benjamin 1
Emile 1
John 1
Percy 1
Wal... 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ullman households.

FAQ

Ullman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ullman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22 people were recorded with the Ullman surname. That placed it at #30,464 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ullman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Ullman a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Ullman surname mean?

Derived from the German occupational surname Ullmann, meaning "wool man" or someone who worked with wool.

What does the Ullman map show?

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