NameCensus.

UK surname

Waxman

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of wax or wax candles.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Waxman surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 175, ranked #21,383, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, East Lindsey and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Waxman is 200 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1844.4%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

175

2016, ranked #21,383

Peak year

2013

200 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Waxman had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016, ranked #21,383.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 156 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Waxman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Waxman surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Waxman 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
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 28 #32,046
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 156 #17,421
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 197 #18,283
1999 modern 188 #18,931
2000 modern 189 #18,860
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 193 #18,713
2003 modern 189 #18,738
2004 modern 177 #19,662
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 177 #19,738
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 183 #19,735
2009 modern 192 #19,527
2010 modern 189 #20,171
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 200 #19,524
2014 modern 191 #20,302
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 175 #21,383

Geography

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Where Waxmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, East Lindsey, Barnet and Tendring. 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 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 026 Bury
2 Bury 024 Bury
3 East Lindsey 013 East Lindsey
4 Barnet 033 Barnet
5 Tendring 003 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Waxman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Waxman

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Waxman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Waxman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Waxman is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Waxman 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

Waxman falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Waxman

The surname Waxman originated in Germany, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "wachs," which means wax, and the suffix "-man," indicating a person who worked with wax or was involved in the wax trade. The name was likely occupational in origin, referring to individuals who produced or sold wax products, such as candles or sealing wax.

In the early days, the name was primarily concentrated in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony, where the wax industry was prevalent. Historical records show variations in spelling, including Wachsmann, Wachsman, and Waxmann, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One of the earliest notable references to the name can be found in the records of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hans Waxman is mentioned as a candle maker in 1587. Another early record dates back to 1612, when a Johann Waxman is listed as a resident of Leipzig, a prominent trade center for wax and other goods.

As the name spread across Europe, it took on different forms and spellings. In England, for instance, the name appeared as Waxman and Waxeman, with one of the earliest recorded instances being that of Richard Waxman, born in 1632 in Oxfordshire.

Several individuals with the surname Waxman have achieved notable status throughout history. One prominent figure was Jacob Waxman (1794-1868), a German-born rabbi and scholar who served as the chief rabbi of Altona, now part of Hamburg, Germany. Another was Samuel Waxman (1828-1890), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Waxman Cigar Company in New York City.

In the realm of literature, Meyer Waxman (1892-1983) was a prominent Yiddish writer and journalist who published numerous works, including the novel "Der Yeliner Komediant" (The Comedian of Yeline). The artist Jonathan Waxman (1865-1942), born in Russia, gained recognition for his paintings and illustrations in the early 20th century.

More recently, Henry Waxman (born 1939) served as a influential member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 33rd congressional district from 1975 to 2015, championing various health and environmental causes during his tenure.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Waxman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Waxman 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 7 Waxmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.99x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 7.99x
Durham 2 7.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 7 Waxmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1060.61x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 7 1060.61x
Southwick 2 800.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Dora 1
Elizabeth 1
Matha 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jacob 1
Marks 1
Thomas 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 Waxman households.

FAQ

Waxman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Waxman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Waxman surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Waxman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016. That gives Waxman a modern rank of #21,383.

What does the Waxman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of wax or wax candles.

What does the Waxman map show?

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