Find out how popular the last name Surman is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Surman.

Surman, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Surman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Surman in America

Surman is the 29822nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Surman surname appeared 788 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Surman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Surman to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Surman

The surname Surman is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name such as Surman's Farm or Surman's Land. The prefix 'Sur' may have been derived from the Old English word 'sur,' meaning sour or bitter, potentially referring to a particular type of soil or crop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Surman can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire from 1230, where a person named William Surman is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in southern England by the 13th century.

Another early reference to the surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which list a John Surman as a taxpayer. This document provides evidence of the Surman family's presence in the region during the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Surman surname is documented in the parish records of St. Martin's Church in Birmingham, West Midlands. A notable entry from 1582 records the baptism of a child named Anne Surman, daughter of John and Elizabeth Surman.

During the 17th century, the Surman surname gained prominence in various parts of England. One notable figure was Sir Robert Surman (1619-1692), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Maldon in Essex from 1661 to 1681.

In the 18th century, the Surman family continued to thrive, with several individuals achieving notable positions. John Surman (1722-1795) was an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Wanstead in Essex from 1766 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Richard Surman (1765-1847), an English engraver and painter known for his intricate topographical engravings and portraits. His works were highly regarded during the Georgian era.

In the 19th century, the Surman surname was well-established across various regions of England. One notable individual was Thomas Surman (1825-1898), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Bath.

Throughout its history, the Surman surname has been associated with various locations and families across England, reflecting its locational origins and the migration patterns of those who bore the name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Surman

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Surman.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Surman was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Surman has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Surman was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Surman, please contact us.

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