Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Newman surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

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

“

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 review
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

Where do most Newmans live?

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 Newmans

How common is your surname?

142nd most common surname in the UK

We have 237,000 records for the Newman surname. The oldest one dates back to 1538.

Who were Newmans most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Newmans.

What are the most common Newman first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Newman family members

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

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 220,000 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

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial