Show ContentsBroman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Broman is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a person dwelling within a borough and occupying an important position akin to that of reeve. The surname Broman may also reflect the occupation of a chamberlain or "servant of the bower." However, Broman may also be a patronymic surname which means "the son of Bruman" [1] from the Old English "Brunmann." [2]

Early Origins of the Broman family

The surname Broman was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the Latin form Bruman(nus) was recorded in Kent and Berkshire. [3] Continuing in Latin, Brummanus was listed at Holme in Norfolk, 1140-1153. Gilbertis filius Brunman was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Cumberland (Cumbria) in 1211 and Brihtmar Bruman, Brunman was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Norfolk in 1199 and 1200. The Subsidy Rolls for Sussex included entries for Ralph Broneman in 1296 and John Bromman in 1327. In Essex we found Alexander Brounman in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327 and in Colchester, we found John Broman in 1372. [2]

Early History of the Broman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Broman research. Another 211 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1199, 1211, 1327, 1372, 1500 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Broman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Broman Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Broman has appeared include Brooman, Bruman, Brunman, Bromman, Brounman and many more.

Early Notables of the Broman family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • John Broman, a prominent 14th century landholder in Essex

Broman Ranking

In the United States, the name Broman is the 18,789th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]


United States Broman migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Broman arrived in North America very early:

Broman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henreich Broman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1847 [5]
  • William Broman, aged 18, who landed in New York in 1854 [5]
  • Frederick Broman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1861 [5]


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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