NameCensus.

UK surname

Wheatman

An occupational surname referring to a farmer or grower of wheat.

In the 1881 census there were 175 people recorded with the Wheatman surname, ranking it #13,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 247, ranked #16,955, down from #13,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, London parishes and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Wellingborough and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Wheatman is 260 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.1%.

1881 census count

175

Ranked #13,982

Modern count

247

2016, ranked #16,955

Peak year

2011

260 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Wheatman had 175 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016, ranked #16,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 190 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Wheatman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Wheatman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Wheatman 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 83 #19,181
1861 historical 111 #19,429
1881 historical 175 #13,982
1891 historical 155 #17,920
1901 historical 190 #15,634
1911 historical 183 #15,811
1997 modern 254 #15,111
1998 modern 258 #15,354
1999 modern 257 #15,506
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 254 #15,641
2003 modern 241 #16,013
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 229 #16,631
2006 modern 231 #16,636
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 242 #16,789
2010 modern 259 #16,386
2011 modern 260 #16,188
2012 modern 238 #17,092
2013 modern 246 #16,979
2014 modern 254 #16,726
2015 modern 254 #16,608
2016 modern 247 #16,955

Geography

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Where Wheatmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, London parishes, Auckland St Andrew, Hale, Great and Brotton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Wellingborough, Mansfield and South Lakeland. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Hale, Great Lincolnshire
5 Brotton Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 006 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 003 Barnsley
3 Wellingborough 009 Wellingborough
4 Mansfield 002 Mansfield
5 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Wheatman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Wheatman

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Wheatman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Wheatman 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 house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Wheatman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Wheatman 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

Wheatman falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Wheatman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Wheatman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Wheatman

The surname Wheatman is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to medieval times. It is derived from the occupation of a man involved in the cultivation or trade of wheat. The name itself is a combination of the Middle English words "whete," meaning wheat, and "man," meaning a person. This suggests that the initial bearers of the surname were likely grain merchants or farmers specializing in wheat.

Records of the surname Wheatman can be found in various historical documents and manuscripts. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the late 13th century. In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, completed in 1275, a John Wheteman is mentioned. This form of the surname is one of several early variants, including Wheteman and Whateman, that can be found in historical records.

Various regional records from England continue to show the presence of the name across the centuries. In the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, a Robert Wheteman is documented, indicating the name's presence in northern England as well. Similarly, the Poll Tax returns for the City of York in 1379 list a Hugo Wheteman, further suggesting the spread and occupational significance of the surname.

The surname Wheatman also appears in church records from the 16th and 17th centuries. For instance, in the parish registers of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, a Thomas Wheatman is recorded in the early 1600s. Further into the 17th century, a John Wheatman can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, dated 1664. These records indicate a continued use of the surname in various parts of England.

Among notable individuals bearing the surname is Charles Wheatman, a prominent figure in the 18th century. Born in 1725, Charles was known for his contributions to agricultural practices in Lincolnshire. In the 19th century, William Wheatman was a recognized name in the wool trade, particularly noted in the records of Yorkshire's burgeoning textile industry. Another distinguished bearer is Samuel Wheatman, born in 1850, who became an influential figure within the Methodist community in Birmingham.

The Wheatman surname, through its various historical records and notable bearers, offers a rich tapestry of England's agricultural and occupational history. Its origins as an occupational name have allowed it to persevere through centuries, marking the importance of wheat cultivation in English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Wheatman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Wheatman 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. Yorkshire leads with 58 Wheatmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 58 3.43x
Derbyshire 24 8.98x
Durham 20 3.94x
Lancashire 17 0.84x
Lincolnshire 14 5.13x
Northumberland 9 3.54x
Staffordshire 9 1.56x
Berkshire 7 5.46x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.17x
Warwickshire 4 0.93x
Middlesex 3 0.18x
Worcestershire 3 1.35x
Gloucestershire 1 0.30x
Oxfordshire 1 0.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lythe in Yorkshire leads with 20 Wheatmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2985.07x.

Place Total Index
Lythe 20 2985.07x
Unstone 18 1714.29x
Great Hale 11 2682.93x
Osmotherley 9 3214.29x
Cramlington 7 208.33x
Idle 7 89.29x
Sandhurst 7 282.26x
Ashover 6 451.13x
Dawdon 6 96.00x
Cannock 5 49.75x
Skinningrove 5 480.77x
Tudhoe 5 112.61x
Doncaster 4 32.36x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 6.55x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 19.04x
Bishopwearmouth 3 6.88x
Dodderhill 3 315.79x
Manchester 3 3.29x
Middlesbrough 3 13.62x
Carlton In Lindrick 2 327.87x
Cumberworth 2 232.56x
Ecclesfield 2 16.13x
Haswell 2 54.95x
Hornsey 2 9.26x
Hunslet 2 7.58x
Leamington 2 70.18x
Oldham 2 3.06x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 43.67x
Sunderland 2 22.30x
Ulverston 2 33.90x
Wallsend 2 24.84x
Birmingham 1 0.70x
Bristol St Michael 1 34.84x
Burringham 1 312.50x
Clifton In York 1 28.25x
Dalton In Furness 1 12.79x
Danby 1 147.06x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.91x
Gainsborough 1 15.55x
Hammersmith London 1 2.38x
Henley On Thames 1 46.30x
Horton In Bradford 1 3.79x
Houghton Le Spring 1 28.49x
Leamington Priors 1 9.44x
Lenton 1 18.45x
Nether Hallam 1 4.37x
Northallerton 1 46.30x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.68x
Rempstone 1 555.56x
Saxelby With Ingleby 1 142.86x
Scarborough 1 6.51x
Sedgefield 1 55.25x
Sheffield 1 1.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Ann 7
Sarah 7
Hannah 6
Jane 6
Elizabeth 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Eleanor 2
Emma 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Barbara 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Celina 1
Constance 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Georgeina 1
Isa. 1
Joanna 1
Lilley 1
Lizzhy 1
Lousia 1
M.E. 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Matiala 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rossanah 1
Sar. 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 9
John 9
James 8
Thomas 7
Charles 6
Joseph 5
William 5
Edward 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Simpson 2
A.H. 1
Almond 1
Artha 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
C.A. 1
Chas. 1
Emmanuel 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
H.J. 1
H.K. 1
Harry 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Nicholas 1
Ralph 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Wheatman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Wheatman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 175 people were recorded with the Wheatman surname. That placed it at #13,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Wheatman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016. That gives Wheatman a modern rank of #16,955.

What does the Wheatman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a farmer or grower of wheat.

What does the Wheatman map show?

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