Origins of the Newman surname

What does the name Newman mean?

The Newman surname is English, and comes from the Old English 'Niwe Man' (new person or stranger). It derives from a description of somebody who was newly settled to an area from another location, and their lineage. The name can sometimes be an anglicisation of the German name 'Neumann', a name with very similar etymological heritage.

Alternative variations of the name Newman

Newman, Newmane, Newmen, Neman, Numan

Start free trial
I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.
SS
Stuart
Trustpilot logoTrustpilot 5 stars
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Newmans.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Newman family's history

OrkneyShetlandHighlandsWestern IslesGrampianTaysideCentralStrathclydeFifeLothianBordersDumfriesNorth East 425North West 209Isle of Man 22Yorkshire 768East Midlands 449West Midlands 1024East 2504London 7480South East 3595South West 1256South Wales 335Mid Wales 50West Wales 31North Wales 43Republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland

In 1921, most Newmans lived in london

Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Newman

How common is your surname?

142nd most common surname in the UK

We have for the Newman surname. The oldest one dates back to 1538.

Who were Newmans most likely to marry?

Our tell us which families married Newmans.

What are the most common Newman first names?

John

William

Mary

Elizabeth

Our tell us the names of Newman family members
Man with milk churns and census card collage
Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

Common jobs for Newmans

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common female occupations for Newmans in 1921

Dressmaker

1,041

Laundress

914

Domestic Servant

640

General Servant Domestic

581

Servant

502

Common male occupations for Newmans in 1921

Agricultural Labourer

1,659

General Labourer

931

Carpenter

867

Farm Labourer

781

Tailor

518

We found over 240,000 family trees with the Newman surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Newmans.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Learn more about the lives of Newman family members

Share your discoveries

Share to WhatsApp

Share to Facebook

Look for a different surname

Paper tear line

Find out more about your family in our records

    or try an advanced search