Contents [hide]

Sherman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Sherman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Israel
Ireland

The saga of the name Sherman follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a person who worked as a sheep-shearer deriving from the middle English word "sheareman," which meant "shearer." Alternately, and especially in Norfolk, the name was derived from "shireman," that is, a person born outside the county. [1]

Early Origins of the Sherman family

The surname Sherman was first found in various counties and shires throughout ancient Britain. In fact, "in [the] Domesday Book the Judge of the County-court was called a Seirman, i.e., Shireman. The Anglo Saxon scirmann is defined by Bosworth as 'a man who superintends, shireman, provincial, an overseer, governor, provost, bailiff of a hundred.' " [1]

The earliest record of the name that we could find was Roger Sereman who was listed in 1207 in Leicestershire. A few years later William le Shereman was listed in 1281 and the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk list John Sherman in 1327. In the same year, the Subsidy Rolls of Essex listed Philip Shareman (Sharman.) [2]

Early History of the Sherman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sherman research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1611, 1662, 1670, 1671 and 1687 are included under the topic Early Sherman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sherman Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Sherman were recorded, including Sherman, Shearman, Sharman, Shaerman, Shirman and others.

Early Notables of the Sherman family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Philip Sherman (1611-1687), an English founding settler of Portsmouth in the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; and Roger Sherman of Connecticut, signer of the American Declaration of...
John Sherman (died 1671), was an English historian of Jesus College, Cambridge, a native of Dedham in the county of Essex. In 1662 his college presented him to the rectory of Harlton in Cambridgeshire...

Sherman Ranking

In the United States, the name Sherman is the 420^th most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. [3]

Migration of the Sherman family to Ireland

Some of the Sherman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sherman migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Sherman family emigrate to North America:

Sherman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William "The Pilgrim" Sherman (died 1679), who landed at Plymouth Harbor in 1632 as an indentured servant but later earned his freedom and was later granted lands at Green Harbor, Marshfield [4]
Philip Sherman, who landed in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1633 [4]
Samuel Sherman, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 [4]
John Sherman, who settled in Boston in 1634
Edmund Sherman, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 [4]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ruth Sherman, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 [4]
Elizabeth Sherman, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 [4]
Catrina Sherman, aged 40, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 [4]
Catrines Sherman, aged 13, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 [4]
Deniell Sherman, aged 3, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 [4]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Sherman, aged 18, who landed in Norfolk, Va in 1803 [4]
John Sherman, who settled in Norfolk Virginia in 1804
John Sherman, who arrived in New Orleans, La in 1813 [4]
John Sherman, who landed in New York in 1822 [4]
George Sherman, who landed in New York in 1822 [4]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sherman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Stephen Sherman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Lieut. Ambrose Sherman U.E. born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA who settled in Sunbury County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the Royal Fenncible Americans, he is listed as drowning in Burton [Whitestone], Sunbury County, Ontario [5]
Mr. Simeon Sherman U.E. who settled in Hawksebury, Prescott and Russell, Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Loyal Rangers [5]

Sherman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Alden Sherman, who arrived in Canada in 1841
David Sherman, who landed in Canada in 1841
Mr. Daniel Sherman, aged 47 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Robert Peel" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 [6]
Miss. Ann Sherman who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lotus" departing 15th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th June 1847 but she died on board [7]
Mr. James Sherman, aged 10 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lotus" departing 15th April 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 24th June 1847 but he died on board [7]

Sherman migration to Australia +

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

Sherman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Sherman, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [8]
George Sherman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bolivar" in 1850 [9]
Mr. Charles Sherman, British Convict who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Corona" on 13th October 1866, arriving in Western Australia, Australia [10]
Mr. Alfred Sherman, (b. 1860), aged 17, Cornish farmer travelling aboard the ship "Commonwealth" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 22nd June 1877 [11]
Mr. Joseph Sherman, (b. 1850), aged 28, Cornish quarryman travelling aboard the ship "Smyrna" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 19th August 1878 [11]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherman 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:

Sherman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Hancock Sherman, aged 34, a shoemaker, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Elizabeth Sherman, aged 35, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Jane Sherman, aged 7, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Elizabeth Sherman, aged 3, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
Sarah Sherman, aged 2, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Thomas Harrison" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sherman migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [12]

Sherman Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mr. Thomas Sherman, aged 26, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Sherman (post 1700) +

Rodney Jarvis Sherman (1944-2024), American football wide receiver
Russell Sherman (1930-2023), American classical pianist, educator and author
Philip Lloyd Sherman (1956-2023), American Orthodox Jewish cantor, mohel, and actor, regarded as "America's Top Mohel", known for his roles in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Orange Is the New Black
Robert Sherman (1932-2023), American radio broadcaster, author, music critic, writer, and educator in New York City, known for his programs Woody’s Children and The Listening Room
James Schoolcraft Sherman (1855-1912), United States Representative from New York, 27th Vice President of the United States
Jack Sherman (1956-2020), American guitarist, best known as the second guitarist to have joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Brigadier-General Harry Benham Sherman (1894-1974), American Deputy Commanding General Ryukyus Islands (1950-1953) [13]
Carl Sherman (1891-1956), American lawyer, New York State Attorney General from 1923 to 1924
Robert Cabot "Bobby" Sherman Jr. (b. 1943), American singer, actor, teen idol
Al Sherman (1897-1973), American Tin Pan Alley songwriter, father of the Sherman Brothers
... (Another 130 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
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
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 55)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 95)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BOLIVAR 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Bolivar.gif
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/corona
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Harry Sherman. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Sherman/Harry_Benham/USA.html