Fireman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The history of the name Fireman begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived 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 Fireman family

The surname Fireman 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 Fireman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fireman 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 Fireman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Fireman 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. Fireman has been recorded under many different variations, including Fireman, Fermin, Firmin, Firmins, Firman, Virman and many more.

Early Notables of the Fireman family

Distinguished members of the family include Humphrey Brook Firman of Gateforth and Brayton in Yorkshire.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 at Ipswich in 1614. In 1632 he went with his father to New England. While at Boston, Massachusetts, he was ordained deacon of the first church, of which John Cotton was minister. At Ipswich, Massachusetts, he received in 1638 a grant of 120 acres of land. He practised medicine in New England, and...
Another 136 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fireman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Fireman family to Ireland

Some of the Fireman 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.

Fireman 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 Fireman or a variant listed above:

Fireman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Edmond Fireman, aged 45, who landed in America in 1635 6
John Fireman, aged 35, who landed in New England in 1635 6
Morris Fireman, who arrived in Maryland in 1635 6

Fireman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

P. Fireman, aged 29, who settled in America from London, in 1893
M. Fireman, aged 27, who settled in America from Southampton, in 1896

Fireman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ada Fireman, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1903
Ada Fireman, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1905
Davis Fireman, aged 25, who landed in America from London, in 1906
Nathan Fireman, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1919
Nathan Fireman, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Fireman (post 1700) +

Edward L. Fireman (1922-1990), American physicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, eponym of Fireman Glacier, Antarctica

The Fireman 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
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)