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Show ContentsGorman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The surname Gorman was derived from the Middle English personal name Gormund, Old English Ga-rmund, composed of the elements ga-r ‘spear’ + mund ‘protection’.

"Gorman: when not from the Norse Gormundr, is from Gourmont, and this is the more probable as it is a name still widespread in Normandy. Gorman was the name of a policeman in a district in Devon." 1

Early Origins of the Gorman family

The surname Gorman was first found in Sussex where William Gorman was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1296. The same source also included an entry for Adam Garman in 1327. 2 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included and entry for William Gormund, Wiltshire in 1273. 3

Capel Garmon is a village near Betws-y-Coed in the county borough of Conwy, Wales. The village is known for the neolithic burial chamber nearby. St Garmon's Church, Capel Garmon, is an Anglican parish church in the village of Capel Garmon, Conwy, Wales, but it was close in 2006.

Early History of the Gorman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gorman research. Another 44 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1177, 1208, 1255, 1766, 1796 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gorman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gorman Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Garmon, Garman, Garmond, Gorman and others.

Early Notables of the Gorman family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Martha Gorman(1766-1796), birth name of Martha Richards, who married Solomon Richards, son of Solomon Richards and Frances Vigors...

Gorman World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gorman is the 1,175th most popular surname with an estimated 24,870 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Gorman is ranked the 668th most popular surname with an estimated 66 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Gorman is the 778th popular surname with an estimated 5,035 people with that name. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Gorman as 827th with 8,188 people. 7

Ireland Migration of the Gorman family to Ireland

Some of the Gorman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Gorman migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Gorman or a variant listed above:

Gorman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mathew Gorman, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 8
  • William Gorman who settled in New England in 1747
  • Thomas Gorman, who landed in America in 1760-1763 8
  • James Gorman, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1763 8
  • William Gorman, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1766 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gorman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mustie Gorman, who landed in America in 1801 8
  • William Gorman, who settled in Boston in 1804
  • rhos Gorman, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1804 8
  • Mrs. Gorman, who landed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 8
  • Dennis Gorman, who landed in Newport, Rhode Island in 1811 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gorman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Joseph Gorman, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1901 8

Canada Gorman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gorman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Barney Gorman U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 378 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 9
  • Mrs. Rebecca Gorman U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 9
Gorman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Daniel Gorman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1821
  • Elizabeth Gorman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
  • Thomas Gorman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
  • Patrick Gorman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1825
  • Honors Gorman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1828
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Gorman migration to Australia +

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

Gorman Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Gorman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Gorman, Irish convict who was convicted in Waterford, Ireland for 7 years for being a Political prisoner and Captain of the Irish Rebels, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. Henry Gorman, (b. 1805), aged 21, English store keeper who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "England"on 28th April 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1851 12
  • Miss Margaret Gorman, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl of Liverpool" in December 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Joseph Gorman, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Argyle" on March 5th, 1831, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 14
  • Mr. Robert Gorman, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Gorman 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:

Gorman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Gorman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
  • Elizabeth Gorman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
  • John Gorman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
  • Joseph Gorman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
  • W. Gorman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Nimroud" in 1860
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gorman (post 1700) +

  • Cliff Gorman (1936-2002), born Joel Joshua Goldberg, an American actor who won an Obie award in 1968 for the stage presentation of The Boys in the Band
  • Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. (1941-2016), American writer and short fiction anthologist
  • Leon A. Gorman (1934-2015), American businessman and philanthropist, President and Chairman of the Board for the clothing company L.L. Bean, grandson of Leon Leonwood Bean
  • James Gorman (b. 1859), American winner of a gold and bronze Olympic medal for shooting at 1908 games
  • Arthur Pue Gorman (1839-1906), American politician and Senator
  • James Gorman VC (1834-1882), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Reg Gorman (1932-2021), Australian television and film actor, and comedian known for his role as Jack Fletcher in The Sullivans, as Harry Patterson in all 26 episodes of Fergus McPhail, and for being one of the last active vaudeville performers in Australia
  • Mr. Daniel Greelan Gorman O.B.E., Scottish professor, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for voluntary service to the Promotion of Science and Engineering and to STEM Education in Kilmarnock and Ayrshire 16
  • Teresa Ellen Gorman (1931-2015), née Moore, a British politician, Member of Parliament for Billericay (1987-2001)
  • Brigadier Sir Eugene Gorman (1891-1973), Australian Chief Inspector of Army Administration from 1942 to 1945 17
  • ... (Another 3 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Alex  Gorman, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18
  • Master Edmund Alexander  Gorman (1914-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 18
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Leonard Gorman (d. 1945), British Leading Air Fitter aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 19
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Roy J Gorman, British Leading Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 20
Victoria steamboat disaster
  • Charles Gorman, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

Suggested Readings for the name Gorman +

  • The Gorman Family History: Including the Genealogy of Their Rider and Armstrong Ancestors by Edith Lynn Mlaker.
  • James Henry Gorman of Haverhill, Massachusetts, His Forebears, Family and Descendants by Arthur Ellsworth Gorman.
  1. Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. 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)
  9. 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
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-of-liverpool
  14. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Argyle voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1831 with 251 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/argyle/1831
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  16. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  17. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, August 30) Eugene Gorman. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Gorman/Sir_Eugene/Australia.html
  18. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  19. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  20. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
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