NameCensus.

UK surname

Workman

An occupational surname referring to a laborer or worker, particularly in construction or manufacturing.

In the 1881 census there were 1,963 people recorded with the Workman surname, ranking it #2,235 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,454, ranked #2,683, down from #2,235 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury and Stroud.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Workman is 2,647 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.

1881 census count

1,963

Ranked #2,235

Modern count

2,454

2016, ranked #2,683

Peak year

1999

2,647 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Workman had 1,963 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,235 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,454 in 2016, ranked #2,683.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,520 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Workman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Workman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Workman 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 1,358 #2,115
1861 historical 1,274 #2,239
1881 historical 1,963 #2,235
1891 historical 2,107 #2,211
1901 historical 2,520 #2,177
1911 historical 2,406 #2,130
1997 modern 2,556 #2,478
1998 modern 2,631 #2,494
1999 modern 2,647 #2,496
2000 modern 2,644 #2,492
2001 modern 2,581 #2,497
2002 modern 2,605 #2,528
2003 modern 2,536 #2,538
2004 modern 2,524 #2,552
2005 modern 2,420 #2,614
2006 modern 2,404 #2,629
2007 modern 2,419 #2,637
2008 modern 2,422 #2,651
2009 modern 2,471 #2,673
2010 modern 2,520 #2,678
2011 modern 2,532 #2,639
2012 modern 2,478 #2,643
2013 modern 2,491 #2,673
2014 modern 2,497 #2,685
2015 modern 2,473 #2,681
2016 modern 2,454 #2,683

Geography

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Where Workmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew, London parishes, North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge and Cam. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury and Stroud. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 North Nibley, Wotton-under-Edge Gloucestershire
5 Cam Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 009 Tewkesbury
2 Stroud 015 Stroud
3 Stroud 011 Stroud
4 Stroud 014 Stroud
5 Stroud 003 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Workman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Workman

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Workman is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Workman is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Workman

The surname WORKMAN is of English and Scottish origin, derived from the occupational term "workman," which referred to a skilled artisan or craftsman. It emerged during the Middle Ages, a period when hereditary surnames were beginning to be adopted.

The name WORKMAN first appeared in the English counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Yorkshire, as well as in Scotland, particularly in the Borders region. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "worc" or "wyrce," meaning "work" or "labor."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the WORKMAN surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a certain Walter Workeman is mentioned. Other early records include the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which lists a William le Workman.

The WORKMAN name has been associated with various trades and professions throughout history. For instance, William Workman (1605-1677) was a prominent English writer and translator, known for his translations of several works by Spanish authors.

Another notable figure was Benjamin Workman (1819-1900), a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who founded the town of Côte Saint-Luc in Quebec. He was also involved in the establishment of several educational institutions, including McGill University.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the WORKMAN surname dates back to the 17th century, when John Workman (1619-1684) emigrated from England and settled in Oyster Bay, Long Island, New York.

The WORKMAN name has also been connected to several place names, such as Workman's Field in Nottinghamshire, England, and Workman's Village in Ontario, Canada, which was established in the early 19th century by a family of that name.

Other notable individuals with the WORKMAN surname include James Workman (1808-1888), a British architect known for his work on medieval churches and cathedrals, and David Workman (1916-2007), an American artist and sculptor recognized for his abstract expressionist works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Workman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Workman 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. Gloucestershire leads with 648 Workmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.19x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 648 17.19x
Worcestershire 192 7.65x
Middlesex 140 0.73x
Lancashire 116 0.51x
Warwickshire 103 2.13x
Lanarkshire 78 1.26x
Monmouthshire 63 4.53x
Cumberland 60 3.63x
Surrey 59 0.63x
Yorkshire 48 0.25x
Staffordshire 45 0.69x
Somerset 44 1.42x
Ayrshire 34 2.36x
Herefordshire 34 4.31x
Kent 32 0.49x
Westmorland 31 7.34x
Glamorgan 30 0.90x
Essex 25 0.66x
Hampshire 25 0.63x
Midlothian 17 0.66x
Wiltshire 15 0.88x
Durham 14 0.24x
Berkshire 13 0.90x
Cheshire 13 0.31x
Devon 10 0.25x
Sussex 9 0.28x
Lincolnshire 8 0.26x
Renfrewshire 8 0.54x
Oxfordshire 7 0.59x
Stirlingshire 7 0.99x
Carmarthenshire 6 0.74x
Leicestershire 6 0.28x
Royal Navy 5 2.18x
Angus 3 0.17x
Montgomeryshire 3 0.68x
Shropshire 3 0.18x
Derbyshire 2 0.07x
Northumberland 2 0.07x
Suffolk 2 0.09x
Argyllshire 1 0.19x
Brecknockshire 1 0.26x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.24x
Fife 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 0.12x
Radnorshire 1 0.65x
Roxburghshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bisley in Gloucestershire leads with 81 Workmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 237.19x.

Place Total Index
Bisley 81 237.19x
Pershore Holy Cross 66 410.45x
Cam 52 449.83x
Govan 47 3.06x
Aston 41 3.07x
Coaley 35 721.65x
Birmingham 32 1.98x
Horsley 31 185.63x
Stroud 31 42.26x
Wotton Under Edge 31 139.58x
Slimbridge 29 516.93x
St Marylebone London 28 2.73x
Dursley 26 167.74x
Cheltenham 25 8.60x
Bromsgrove 24 28.42x
Charfield 21 569.11x
Gloucester Barton St 21 95.07x
Clent 19 288.32x
West Kilbride 19 138.69x
Lower Booths 18 44.05x
Liverpool 17 1.23x
North Nibley 17 315.40x
Kensington London 16 1.50x
Painswick 16 60.04x
Penrith 16 26.18x
Basingstoke 15 33.11x
Poplar London 15 4.14x
Walcot 15 9.10x
St Woollos 14 9.03x
Barony 13 0.83x
Bristol St Augustine 13 21.37x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 13 18.85x
Harborne 13 6.25x
Hereford St Owen 13 49.96x
Islington London 13 0.70x
Mile End Old Town 13 4.29x
Walthamstow 13 9.52x
Bitton 12 36.59x
Dodderhill 12 112.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 1.16x
Everton 12 1.65x
Minchinhampton 12 39.96x
Rumworth 12 36.82x
Bristol St George 11 6.31x
Lee 11 11.55x
Powick 11 63.29x
Swindon 11 8.34x
Battersea 10 1.41x
Glasgow 10 0.91x
Halifax 10 3.58x
Handsworth 10 6.25x
Stinchcombe 10 452.49x
Alcester 9 56.32x
Aspull 9 16.78x
Aston Cum Aughton 9 57.77x
Bermondsey 9 1.57x
Camberwell 9 0.73x
Lambeth 9 0.54x
Lowther 9 291.26x
St Pancras London 9 0.58x
Usk 9 78.19x
Bengeworth 8 92.59x
Berkeley 8 38.15x
Bishampton 8 283.69x
Bristol St James St Paul 8 6.37x
Hereford St Peter 8 38.00x
Llandaff 8 7.19x
Lyncombe Widcombe 8 9.88x
Pershore St Andrew 8 57.76x
South Hamlet 8 34.31x
St George Hanover 8 3.19x
Westbury On Trym 8 6.27x
Woodchester 8 134.45x
Cheadle 7 8.64x
Chilton 7 39.22x
Edgbaston 7 4.66x
Exhall 7 95.24x
Llanwonno 7 5.82x
Mitcheldean 7 149.57x
Spotland 7 2.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 125
Elizabeth 60
Sarah 50
Ellen 40
Eliza 38
Jane 35
Annie 33
Emma 30
Ann 29
Alice 24
Emily 22
Hannah 21
Martha 20
Fanny 18
Charlotte 16
Margaret 15
Louisa 14
Amelia 13
Clara 12
Florence 12
Edith 11
Harriet 11
Caroline 10
Maria 10
Frances 9
Rose 9
Agnes 8
Anne 8
Laura 7
Amy 6
Esther 6
Isabella 6
Susan 6
Elizth. 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Rosa 5
Selina 5
Catherine 4
Harriett 4
Lucy 4
Rebecca 4
Alma 3
Bertha 3
Blanche 3
Hester 3
Lydia 3
Mabel 3
May 3
Minnie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 93
John 82
George 63
Henry 56
Thomas 55
Charles 51
Joseph 47
James 34
Frederick 28
Arthur 23
Edward 20
Alfred 16
Harry 14
Walter 14
Albert 13
Daniel 11
Richard 11
Robert 11
Samuel 10
Francis 9
Frank 9
Geo. 9
David 7
Ernest 7
Herbert 6
Edwin 5
Jesse 5
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Andrew 3
Ezra 3
Fred 3
Honeybourne 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Reuben 3
Rufus 3
Sidney 3
T. 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Chas.H. 2
Frances 2
Frederic 2
Jno.W. 2
Miles 2
Moses 2
Philip 2
Rowland 2

FAQ

Workman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Workman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,963 people were recorded with the Workman surname. That placed it at #2,235 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Workman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,454 in 2016. That gives Workman a modern rank of #2,683.

What does the Workman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a laborer or worker, particularly in construction or manufacturing.

What does the Workman map show?

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