NameCensus.

UK surname

Yeaman

An occupational surname referring to a yeoman, a person holding lands by service.

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Yeaman surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 510, ranked #9,846, down from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton and Stoneferry, Forfar and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Coupar Angus and Meigle, Kettle and Ladybank and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yeaman is 534 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.4%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

510

2016, ranked #9,846

Peak year

2010

534 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yeaman had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016, ranked #9,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 475 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Yeaman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yeaman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yeaman 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 452 #8,050
1901 historical 475 #8,373
1911 historical 234 #13,526
1997 modern 466 #9,809
1998 modern 489 #9,760
1999 modern 480 #9,971
2000 modern 482 #9,901
2001 modern 477 #9,798
2002 modern 498 #9,664
2003 modern 488 #9,657
2004 modern 499 #9,539
2005 modern 483 #9,676
2006 modern 496 #9,535
2007 modern 501 #9,552
2008 modern 498 #9,664
2009 modern 521 #9,554
2010 modern 534 #9,581
2011 modern 497 #9,997
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 506 #9,936
2014 modern 510 #9,945
2015 modern 502 #9,972
2016 modern 510 #9,846

Geography

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Where Yeamans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton and Stoneferry, Forfar, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Coupar Angus and Meigle, Kettle and Ladybank, Northumberland, North Tyneside and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Sutton and Stoneferry Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Forfar Forfar
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Coupar Angus and Meigle Perth and Kinross
2 Kettle and Ladybank Fife
3 Northumberland 015 Northumberland
4 North Tyneside 023 North Tyneside
5 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yeaman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yeaman

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

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Yeaman surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Yeaman household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Yeaman is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Yeaman 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

Yeaman falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yeaman is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Yeaman

The surname Yeaman originates from the British Isles, specifically Scotland and England, and can be traced back to the Middle Ages, roughly around the 13th century. The name is believed to derive from the Old English word "gēoman," which means "yeoman" or "farmer," indicating a social status above that of a common laborer but below the gentry. Geographically, the name was prevalent in rural areas of Scotland and Northern England, regions where the yeoman class was historically significant.

Historical references provide a glimpse into the use and recognition of the surname. Early records such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the early 14th century include instances of the name Yeaman. For example, John Yeman is noted in the records of 1327. Other documents, like the Poll Tax Records of 1379, feature entries for individuals like Richard Yeman, further establishing the name's presence during medieval times.

The surname Yeaman also appears in various historical manuscripts and legal documents throughout the ensuing centuries. One of the earliest recorded instances in Scotland involves a William Yeaman, documented in 1415 in Dundee. Various spellings have been noted over the years, such as Yemon, Yemonson, and Yeomans, each indicating subtle regional variations in pronunciation and spelling norms.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Yeaman include George Yeaman, born in 1829 in Kentucky, USA, who became a prominent U.S. politician and diplomat. Another historical figure is John Yeaman, Lord Provost of Dundee, who was influential in local Scottish government during the late 17th century. William Yeaman, mentioned earlier, served as a noted figure in Dundee and provided critical contributions to the town's civic administration.

Further examples include Henry Yeaman, a 16th-century landowner in Yorkshire, whose documented activities include the signing of various legal charters. In the 18th century, Jane Yeaman, a poet from Scotland born in 1758, gained recognition for her literary contributions, showcasing the diverse fields in which members of the Yeaman family have excelled.

Additional records from the early 19th century mention Alexander Yeaman, born in 1802, who was a well-respected teacher and community leader in Edinburgh. This array of historical references illustrates the surname Yeaman’s longstanding presence and the significant roles individuals with this name have played across various regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yeaman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yeaman 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. Angus leads with 146 Yeamans recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.83x.

County Total Index
Angus 146 46.83x
Northumberland 38 7.59x
Durham 29 2.90x
Perthshire 29 19.20x
Yorkshire 22 0.66x
Midlothian 20 4.44x
Stirlingshire 10 8.06x
Lancashire 9 0.23x
Selkirkshire 9 29.56x
Renfrewshire 7 2.68x
Kent 6 0.52x
Surrey 6 0.37x
Lanarkshire 4 0.37x
Fife 3 1.51x
Glamorgan 2 0.34x
Roxburghshire 2 3.28x
Somerset 2 0.37x
Middlesex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liff Benvie in Angus leads with 50 Yeamans recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.64x.

Place Total Index
Liff Benvie 50 105.64x
Dundee 22 18.90x
Forfar 21 124.41x
Sutton Stoneferry 17 178.20x
Swarland 15 9375.00x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 6.62x
St Ninians 10 81.30x
Gateshead 9 12.01x
Melrose 9 117.49x
Murroes 9 1034.48x
Alnwick 8 92.92x
Arbroath 8 77.44x
Bishopwearmouth 8 9.31x
Chirton 8 70.61x
Kirriemuir 8 104.03x
Perth East Church 7 49.16x
West Greenock 7 14.95x
Blairgowrie 6 100.50x
Herne 6 118.11x
Lambeth 6 2.04x
Mains 6 226.42x
Heworth 5 25.34x
Montrose 5 26.46x
Perth West Church 5 69.74x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 4.58x
Flamborough 4 246.91x
Liverpool 4 1.65x
Lochee 4 143.88x
Alnmouth 3 483.87x
Dunblane 3 83.10x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 3 114.50x
Kirkden 3 153.85x
Lanark 3 34.25x
St Madoes 3 833.33x
Tynemouth 3 11.19x
Whitburn 3 128.76x
Brechin 2 16.33x
Clunie 2 298.51x
Collessie 2 87.34x
Hawick 2 14.66x
Meigle 2 178.57x
Monifieth 2 18.17x
Newtyle 2 188.68x
Roath 2 7.51x
South Leith 2 3.94x
Staplegrove 2 303.03x
Westoe 2 3.52x
Corstorphine 1 40.16x
Coupar Angus 1 33.90x
Crompton 1 8.80x
Edinburgh St Andrews 1 26.88x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 11.26x
Elvet 1 13.83x
Ford 1 33.33x
Glasgow 1 0.52x
Kensington London 1 0.53x
Kingoldrum 1 222.22x
Maryton 1 222.22x
Milburn 1 1250.00x
Rattray 1 28.41x
Scoonie 1 23.20x
St Vigeans 1 5.94x
Wakefield 1 3.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 7
George 6
Robert 6
Thomas 5
James 4
Joseph 4
Walter 4
Charles 3
Dd. 2
Afd. 1
Alexander 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edward 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Keith 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Yeaman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yeaman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Yeaman surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yeaman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 510 in 2016. That gives Yeaman a modern rank of #9,846.

What does the Yeaman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a yeoman, a person holding lands by service.

What does the Yeaman map show?

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