Firmin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Firmin is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the given names Firmin, Farman or Ferman. "The great home of this name and all its varied forms was Norfolk. From hence it extended as Firmin into Essex. In these districts the surname is still common." 1

The name may have been Norman in origin as Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae listed N. Firmin of Normandy,1180-95 and William Forman, 1198. 2

Early Origins of the Firmin family

The surname Firmin was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat at Gateforth, which at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086 was known as Gereford, and granted by the King to Ilbert de Lacy. 3

As mentioned before, Norfolk quickly became the most popular county for the family. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: John Fayerman and Richard Fayrman, as both holding lands there at that time. 1In Berkshire, we found Robert ferriman listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1192 and later Richard le Feriman was found in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. 4 The latter entry eludes to the occupational nature of some of the family as in "Richard the Ferryman."

Later more records were revealed. Walter Fayrman, was vicar of Lakenham, Norfolk in 1369 and Farman Alberd, was bailiff of Yarmouth in 1325. This same individual is found as Fairman Alberd in 1306. 5

Early History of the Firmin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Firmin research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1614, 1632, 1635, 1638, 1647, 1662, 1697 and 1937 are included under the topic Early Firmin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Firmin Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Firmin has been recorded under many different variations, including Fireman, Fermin, Firmin, Firmins, Firman, Virman and many more.

Early Notables of the Firmin family

Distinguished members of the family include

Giles Firmin (1614-1697), was an English minister and physician, Deacon in the first church in Massachusetts of John Cotton, and ejected minister in 1662. he was the son of Giles Firmin, and was born...
Thomas Firmin (1632-1697), was an English businessman, philanthropist and Unitarian publisher. he was the son of Henry and Prudence Firmin, and was born at Ipswich in June 1632. Henry Firmin was a par...

Firmin Ranking

In France, the name Firmin is the 2,286^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,809 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Firmin family to Ireland

Some of the Firmin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Firmin migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Firmin or a variant listed above:

Firmin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Giles Firmin, Jr., of Suffolk who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 7
Mrs. Martha Doggett Firmin, of Suffolk who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Watertown 7
John Firmin, of Suffolk, who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet. 8
John Firmin, who arrived in New England in 1631 8
John Firmin, aged 46, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Elizabeth" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Firmin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Firmin, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1832 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Firmin (post 1700) +

Julius H. Firmin, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Fitzwilliam, 1938 9
Albert B. W. Firmin, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Brooklyn, New York, 1924-33 9
Jean-Pierre Firmin Malher, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 10
Alfred Firmin Loisy (1857-1940), Catholic priest, the author of "L'Évangile et l'Église" (1902) and "Autour d'un petit livre" (1903), and a professor at the College of France (1911-27)
Firmin Mattis (1929-2024), French alpine skier, who competed in the men's slalom at the 1952 Winter Olympics
Firmin Dugas (1830-1889), French Canadian businessman and politician, Member of the Canadian Parliament for Montcalm (1871-1887)
Firmin Abauzit (1679-1767), French theologian
Firmin Gillot (1820-1872), French inventor of paniconography in 1852

The Firmin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Firmus in Christo
Motto Translation: Firm in Christ.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, April 14) Jean-Pierre Malher. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html