| ![Show Contents]() Forman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Early Origins of the Forman familyThe surname Forman was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included some of the first listings of the family: Ricardus Forman; Johannes Forman; and Robertus Formain. All held estates there at that time. 1 However, another source notes that Alan Forman and Robert Fourman were both listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327. 2 Due to Yorkshire's geographic proximity to Scotland, its very probable that records there would reveal more family records. In Scotland, the name is "perhaps from English Forman (13th century), older Formann, Latinized Formannus. Robert Foreman of Edinburghshire rendered homage, [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. Adam Forman was scutifer to Arnchibald, earl of Douglas, 1426. John Forman witnessed sealing of an inquest anent a fishing on the Tweed, 1467, and in 1474 payment was made to John Forman, Scottish merchant." 3 Early History of the Forman familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Forman research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1465, 1501, 1504, 1513, 1514, 1521, 1522, 1539, 1552, 1562, 1611, 1696, 1743 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Forman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Forman Spelling VariationsThe name, Forman, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Forman, Foreman, Formon, Fourman and others. Early Notables of the Forman familyNotable amongst the family name during their early history was - Andrew Forman (c.1465-11 March 1522), a Scottish diplomat and prelate. He rose to become Archbishop of St. Andrews, and is said to have been one of the Formans of Hatton, near Berwick-on-Tweed. He als...
- Simon Forman (1552-1611), was an "astrologer and doctor, the fifth son of the eight children of William Forman and his wife Mary, daughter of John Foster, by Marianna Hallam. Simon's grandfather, Rich...
Forman RankingIn the United States, the name Forman is the 2,647th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 4  Migration of the Forman family to Ireland
Some of the Forman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Forman migration to the United States | + |
The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Forman surname who came to North America were:
Forman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Katherine Forman, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 5
- William Forman, who arrived in Maryland in 1675 5
- John Forman, who arrived in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1685 5
Forman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Juliana Forman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 5
- Jacob Philip Forman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1737 5
- Ric Forman, who arrived in South Carolina in 1768 5
- Lewis Forman, who landed in New York in 1796 5
Forman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Christian Forman, aged 31, who landed in Maryland in 1812 5
- Richard Forman, aged 29, who landed in Missouri in 1840 5
- J G Forman, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 5
| Forman migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Forman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. James Forman U.E., "Foreman" (b. 1744) born in Cortlandt, Westchester, New York, USA from Peekskill, New York, USA who settled in Bear Island, Queesbury, New Brunswick c. 1784 he enlisted in 1777 served in Captain John McApline's Company King's American Regiment, Captain Abraham DePeyster's Company and Colonel George Campbell's Company he died in 1831, married to Abigail Conklin they had 5 children 6
| Forman migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Forman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. John Forman, (Black, Jack), British Convict who was convicted in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
| Forman 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: Forman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- George Forman a carpenter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Romulus" in 1862
- Marshall Forman a carpenter, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Romulus" in 1862
- Samuel Forman, aged 21, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Hindostan" in 1875
- Henry Forman, aged 20, a farm labourer, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Renfrewshire" in 1878
| Contemporary Notables of the name Forman (post 1700) | + |
- Howard C. Forman (1946-2023), American politician in the state of Florida
- Donald J. "Donnie" Forman (1926-2018), American collegiate and professional basketball player
- Justus Miles Forman (1875-1915), American novelist and playwright
- William Orange Forman (1886-1958), pitcher in Major League Baseball
- Gayle Forman (b. 1971), American writer
- Bruce Forman (b. 1956), American jazz guitarist
- Stanley Joseph Forman (b. 1945), American photojournalist
- Joey Forman (1929-1982), American comedian and comic actor
- James Forman (1928-2005), American Civil Rights leader
- Mitchel Forman (b. 1956), American jazz and fusion keyboard player
- ... (Another 34 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Historic Events for the Forman family | + |
- Mr. Justus Miles Forman, American 1st Class Passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 8
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- "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
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
- Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
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Forman migration to the United States 
Forman migration to Canada 
Forman migration to Australia 
Forman migration to New Zealand 
England
Ireland
Scotland
