NameCensus.

UK surname

Warman

A surname derived from the Old English "wǣr" and "mann," denoting a guard, watchman, or protector.

In the 1881 census there were 1,409 people recorded with the Warman surname, ranking it #2,947 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,075, ranked #3,118, down from #2,947 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hawkinge, Folkestone and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bromsgrove and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warman is 2,219 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.3%.

1881 census count

1,409

Ranked #2,947

Modern count

2,075

2016, ranked #3,118

Peak year

1999

2,219 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warman had 1,409 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,947 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,075 in 2016, ranked #3,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,075 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Warman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warman 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 989 #2,821
1861 historical 956 #2,902
1881 historical 1,409 #2,947
1891 historical 1,575 #2,818
1901 historical 1,813 #2,892
1911 historical 2,075 #2,406
1997 modern 2,117 #2,916
1998 modern 2,187 #2,931
1999 modern 2,219 #2,920
2000 modern 2,183 #2,942
2001 modern 2,132 #2,948
2002 modern 2,205 #2,912
2003 modern 2,136 #2,940
2004 modern 2,093 #2,996
2005 modern 2,004 #3,082
2006 modern 1,974 #3,131
2007 modern 1,976 #3,158
2008 modern 2,017 #3,130
2009 modern 2,046 #3,150
2010 modern 2,072 #3,181
2011 modern 2,046 #3,179
2012 modern 2,035 #3,145
2013 modern 2,083 #3,134
2014 modern 2,105 #3,127
2015 modern 2,084 #3,119
2016 modern 2,075 #3,118

Geography

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Where Warmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hawkinge, Folkestone, Cardiff St John and St Mary and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bromsgrove and Amber Valley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bromsgrove 013 Bromsgrove
2 Amber Valley 010 Amber Valley
3 Bromsgrove 010 Bromsgrove
4 Bromsgrove 011 Bromsgrove
5 Bromsgrove 007 Bromsgrove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warman

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Warman 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

Warman 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

Warman falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Warman

The surname Warman is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "waer" meaning "wary" or "cautious" and "man" referring to a person. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone who was perceived as a particularly vigilant or careful individual.

One of the earliest known references to the name Warman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Wareman" in the county of Hertfordshire. This historical record suggests that the name was already in use in England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, with various spellings such as "Warmann" and "Wareman" being recorded in local documents and records.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Warman, a Member of Parliament for the borough of Ipswich in Suffolk during the 15th century. He was born around 1420 and served as an MP in the Parliaments of 1449 and 1472.

Another early example of the name is found in the form of William Warman, who was born in the village of Wivenhoe, Essex, in the late 15th century. He became a prominent merchant and served as a bailiff (a local official) in the nearby town of Colchester in 1520.

In the 16th century, the Warman surname appears to have spread more widely across England, with records showing bearers of the name in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Yorkshire. One notable figure from this period was John Warman, a clergyman who was born in Gloucestershire in 1530 and later became the Rector of Weston-sub-Edge in the same county.

During the 17th century, the Warman name continued to be found in various parts of England, with some bearers of the name migrating to the American colonies. One such individual was Edward Warman, who was born in Oxfordshire in 1620 and later settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where he became a respected landowner and farmer.

Throughout the centuries, the Warman surname has been associated with various places and regions across England, including the village of Warmansworth (now called Warminster) in Wiltshire, which may have derived its name from an early bearer of the Warman surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warman 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 241 Warmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.76x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 241 1.76x
Kent 233 4.99x
Surrey 145 2.17x
Worcestershire 113 6.32x
Norfolk 103 4.89x
Somerset 102 4.63x
Essex 89 3.29x
Wiltshire 53 4.38x
Berkshire 48 4.67x
Hertfordshire 42 4.45x
Yorkshire 36 0.27x
Glamorgan 34 1.43x
Gloucestershire 18 0.67x
Hampshire 16 0.57x
Devon 14 0.49x
Lancashire 13 0.08x
Oxfordshire 13 1.54x
Staffordshire 13 0.28x
Monmouthshire 12 1.21x
Sussex 11 0.48x
Warwickshire 11 0.32x
Suffolk 10 0.60x
Leicestershire 7 0.46x
Angus 5 0.39x
Lincolnshire 5 0.23x
Northamptonshire 4 0.31x
Northumberland 4 0.20x
Durham 3 0.07x
Shropshire 3 0.25x
Bedfordshire 1 0.14x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Folkestone in Kent leads with 95 Warmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.81x.

Place Total Index
Folkestone 95 104.81x
Bromsgrove 48 79.73x
Islington London 43 3.24x
Bermondsey 34 8.34x
Hackney London 29 3.78x
Newington 29 5.73x
Hitchin 21 49.28x
Ingrave 18 731.71x
Erith 17 36.92x
Lambeth 17 1.42x
Street 17 142.50x
West Ham 16 2.68x
Croydon 15 4.05x
St Marylebone London 15 2.05x
Berden 14 823.53x
Bow London 14 8.03x
Deptford St Paul 14 3.88x
Loddon 13 240.30x
Scarborough 13 10.54x
Willesden 13 10.07x
Camberwell 12 1.37x
Canterbury St Mary 12 38.27x
Ilminster 12 77.92x
Beenham 11 443.55x
Bradford 11 3.35x
Kings Norton 11 6.86x
Lewisham 11 4.41x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 11 85.87x
Swindon 11 11.71x
Belbroughton 10 107.76x
Claines 10 20.37x
Albury 9 306.12x
Cardiff St John 9 11.55x
Hammersmith London 9 2.67x
Hendon 9 18.26x
Rotherhithe 9 5.32x
Shadwell London 9 23.48x
Shoreditch London 9 1.52x
Walcot 9 7.67x
Coston Hackett 8 909.09x
Hethersett 8 150.09x
Hornsey 8 4.62x
Kirkley 8 57.31x
Ramsgate 8 10.49x
Roath 8 7.39x
Romford 8 18.72x
Yeovil 8 17.86x
Crewkerne 7 29.90x
Dover St James 7 34.18x
Great Bedwin 7 81.40x
Heigham 7 6.19x
Honiton 7 44.36x
Lakenham 7 23.40x
Lee 7 10.32x
Leeds 7 0.91x
Llanover 7 20.70x
Mile End Old Town 7 3.24x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 7 51.21x
Purton 7 64.94x
Sandwich St Mary 7 165.09x
Standon 7 72.09x
Streatley 7 230.26x
Swansea St Thomas 7 29.22x
Theydon Bois 7 170.73x
Walthamstow 7 7.19x
Wiveliscombe 7 56.96x
Woodstock 7 131.83x
Wymondham 7 32.51x
Acton 6 7.47x
Ashcott 6 178.04x
Battersea 6 1.19x
Bristol St George 6 4.83x
Cardiff St Mary 6 4.57x
Eltham 6 21.91x
Hampstead Norris 6 92.88x
Isle Brewers 6 405.41x
Kensington London 6 0.79x
Severn Stoke 6 184.62x
Taunton St Mary 6 14.83x
Whitlingham 6 1818.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 100
John 64
George 53
Henry 39
Charles 38
Thomas 38
James 33
Edward 25
Alfred 18
Walter 16
Frederick 14
Joseph 13
Robert 13
Samuel 11
Albert 9
Arthur 9
Frank 9
Harry 9
Herbert 9
Stephen 8
Edwin 6
Richard 6
Ernest 5
Wm. 5
Edmund 4
Leonard 4
Thos. 4
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Josiah 3
Percy 3
Reuben 3
Robt. 3
Sidney 3
Edmond 2
Frederic 2
Gardiner 2
Lambert 2
Levy 2
Mark 2
Noah 2
Simeon 2
Solomon 2
Stanley 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Warman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,409 people were recorded with the Warman surname. That placed it at #2,947 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,075 in 2016. That gives Warman a modern rank of #3,118.

What does the Warman surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English "wǣr" and "mann," denoting a guard, watchman, or protector.

What does the Warman map show?

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