Erman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany
Italy

The distinguished surname Erman originated in an area of Italy, known as the Papal States. Although the people here were originally known by a single name, it became necessary for them to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. One of the most common types of family name created at this time was the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name. The surname Erman came from the given name Armani. The personal name Armani is derived from the Germanic name Harman, which itself is derived from the Germanic words "hari" and "mann," which means "man of force."

Early Origins of the Erman family

The surname Erman was first found in the city of Perugia in the 10th century, where members of the Armano family were counts and landowners.

Early History of the Erman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Erman research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1374, 1608, 1613 and 1669 are included under the topic Early Erman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Erman Spelling Variations

In comparison with other European surnames, Italian surnames have a surprising number of forms. They reflect the regional variations and the many dialects of the Italian language, each with its own distinctive features. For example, in Northern Italy the typical Italian surname suffix is "i", whereas in Southern Italy it is "o". Additionally, spelling changes frequently occurred because medieval scribes and church officials often spelled names as they sounded rather than according to any specific spelling rules. The spelling variations in the name Erman include Arman, Armani, Armanini, Armanni, Armanno, Armano, D'Arman, Armannino, Armannini, Armanino, Erman, Ermani, Ermanis, Ermanni, Ermanno and many more.

Early Notables of the Erman family

Prominent among members of the family was Pier Martire Armani (1613-1669), Italian painter from Reggio during the Baroque period; Vincenza Armani, who lived in Venice during the 16th century descended from a...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Erman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Erman migration to the United States +

Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Erman or a variant listed above:

Erman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Peter Erman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 1
Peter Erman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Erman (post 1700) +

John Erman (1935-2021), American two-time Directors Guild of America Award winning and nine-time Emmy nominated television and film director, actor and producer from Chicago
Georg Adolf Erman (1806-1877), German physicist from Berlin, son of Paul Erman
Paul Erman (1764-1851), German physicist from Berlin
Johann Peter Adolf Erman (1854-1937), German renowned Egyptologist and lexicographer

Citations +

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)