Show ContentsNewman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Newman comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a stranger or newcomer. The surname Newman is derived from the Old English words neowe, niwe, and nige, which all mean new, and the word mann, which means man. [1]

"In Sussex documents of the XIII. cent. it is spelt Nieuweman, and latinized Novus Homo." [2] "Confined to the southern half of England and not occurring in any numbers north of a line drawn west from the Wash. It has evidently several homes, and is at present most frequently found in Essex, Wilts, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire. This name signifies 'a stranger.' In the 13th century it was of frequent occurrence, as Neweman, in Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire, and as Neuman it was also then common in Norfolk and Essex (Hundred Rolls), in which two counties it has been ever since established." [3]

Early Origins of the Newman family

The surname Newman was first found in Dorset where they held a family seat from early times. There are also early records of Stangrim Noueman listed in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1166; Godwin Nieweman listed in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1169; and Robert le Nyman in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. [4]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 lists four entries for the name: Robert Niweman in Cambridgeshire; Herbert le Niweman in Oxfordshire; Matthew Neuman in Huntingdon; and John le Neuman in Bedfordshire. [5]

"Stockleigh, [Devon] a seat of the Newman family, whose principal residence is at Mamhead, is close by; and not far distant is the quaint fishing village of Torcross." [6]

Early History of the Newman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Newman research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1597, 1602, 1636, 1643 and 1663 are included under the topic Early Newman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Newman Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Newman has undergone many spelling variations, including Newman, Newmen, Newmin and others.

Early Notables of the Newman family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Samuel Newman (1602-1663), English-born, American clergyman in colonial Massachusetts, born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, he was prosecuted for nonconformity and emigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, c. 1...

Newman World Ranking

In the United States, the name Newman is the 300th most popular surname with an estimated 89,532 people with that name. [7] However, in Canada, the name Newman is ranked the 481st most popular surname with an estimated 10,050 people with that name. [8] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Newman is the 244th popular surname with an estimated 179 people with that name. [9] Australia ranks Newman as 207th with 16,067 people. [10] New Zealand ranks Newman as 258th with 2,362 people. [11] The United Kingdom ranks Newman as 162nd with 33,269 people. [12]

Ireland Migration of the Newman family to Ireland

Some of the Newman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Newman migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Newman were among those contributors:

Newman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robart Newman, aged 25, who landed in Virginia in 1618 aboard the ship "Neptune" [13]
  • William Newman, aged 35, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Furtherance" [13]
  • Robest Newman, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [13]
  • George Newman, who settled in Maine in 1630
  • Mrs. Newman, who arrived in New England in 1634 aboard the ship "Mary & John" [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Newman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Newman, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [13]
  • Adam Newman, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 [13]
  • Roger Newman, who landed in Maryland in 1704 [13]
  • Reuben Newman, who landed in Virginia in 1714 [13]
  • John Hendrick Newman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1740 [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Newman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edouard Newman, who landed in Louisiana in 1805-1809 [13]
  • Patrick Newman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 [13]
  • John P. Newman, who landed in New York in 1808 [13]
  • Frances Newman, aged 28, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1812 [13]
  • Charles Newman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1823 [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Newman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Jacob Newman, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 [13]
  • Michael Newman, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 [13]
  • Annie Mary Newman, who arrived in Alabama in 1928 [13]

Canada Newman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Newman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Newman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mr. David Newman U.E. who settled in Parr Town, Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 [14]
Newman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Newman, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1811
  • Thomas Newman, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1811
  • Patrick Newman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1825
  • John Newman, who landed in Canada in 1833
  • John Newman, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Newman migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Newman Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Newman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Newman, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for life for high treason, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he was part of the Despard Plot in 1802 to kill King George III [16]
  • Miss Mary Newman, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
  • John Newman, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia [18]
  • Mr. Daniel Newman, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [19]
  • George Newman, English convict from Devon, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [20]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Newman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Newman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Newman, (b. 1814), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 [21]
  • Mrs. Newman, (b. 1810), aged 29, British settler travelling from London with a child aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 [21]
  • Miss Newman, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Tuscan" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 28th September 1842 [21]
  • J. L. Newman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Susan" in 1848
  • Mr. Newman, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Susan" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand in 1849 [21]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Newman (post 1700) +

  • Paul Leonard Newman (1925-2008), Academy Award, Golden Globe, Cannes Award, and Emmy Award winning American actor and film director, co-founder of Newman's Own which has donated over US$535 million to charity as on November 2018, founder of the SeriousFun Children's Network in 1988
  • Floyd Newman (1931-2023), American saxophonist, session musician and bandleader from Memphis
  • Theodore R. Newman Jr. (1934-2023), American jurist, Senior Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals (1991-2016), the first black chief judge of the court
  • William S. H. Newman, American politician, U.S. Consul in Saint John's, 1852-61
  • Pat Newman (1941-2022), American first head women's tennis coach at Louisiana State University who had an overall record of 71–24 in four seasons as head coach of the Lady Tigers
  • Ezra Theodore Newman (1929-2021), American physicist, known for his many contributions to general relativity theory, awarded the 2011 Einstein Prize from the American Physical Society:
  • Mark Newman (1949-2020), American senior vice president for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball
  • Walter A. Newman Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention from Wayne County 7th District, 1961
  • William Newman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1864
  • William L. Newman, American politician, Mayor of Henderson, Kentucky, 1970-77
  • ... (Another 138 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Charles Albert Newman (1918-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Brighton, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [22]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Charles Newman, "Barrymore" Australian Junior Officer Royal Australian Navy from Australia, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [23]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Haydn Walter Newman (b. 1920), British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [24]
  • Mr. R E A Newman, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [24]
HMS Royal Oak
  • Walter Harry Newman (1901-1939), British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [25]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Charles Thomas Newman (d. 1912), aged 33, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [26]


The Newman 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: Ubi amor ibi fides
Motto Translation: Where there is love there is faith.


Suggested Readings for the name Newman +

  • The Newman Family: Descendants of Davis and Nancy Newman, 1780, Spartanburg County District, South Carolina by William Alton Newman.
  • The Neumanns: Wisconsin Pioneers, 1848-1978 by Kathleen Neumann Graber.

  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  9. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  10. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  11. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  12. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  13. 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)
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bellona
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canada
  18. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  20. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  23. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  24. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  25. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  26. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook