Formann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Early Origins of the Formann family

The surname Formann 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 Formann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Formann 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 Formann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Formann Spelling Variations

The name, Formann, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Forman, Foreman, Formon, Fourman and others.

Early Notables of the Formann family

Notable 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 also was Bishop of Moray in 1501, and Archbishop...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Formann Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Formann family to Ireland

Some of the Formann 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.

Formann 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 Formann surname who came to North America were:

Formann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Formann, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1836 4
Aron Formann, who settled in America, in 1892
Estel Formann, aged 1, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
Golde Formann, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1892

Formann Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Anton Formann, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Prague, Bohemia, in 1907
Iszik Formann, aged 10, who immigrated to America from Dubrowsky, Russia, in 1910

Contemporary Notables of the name Formann (post 1700) +

Anton K. Formann (1949-2010), Austrian research psychologist, statistician, and psychometrician

Citations +

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)
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)