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Osman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Osman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Osman is a name whose history on English soil dates back to the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066. The Osman family lived in Dorset. The name, however, is a reference to Osmandville, on the River Bire in Bessin, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1

Osmund (fl. 758), the "King of the South-Saxons, is said by Florence of Worcester to have been reigning in 758, at which time the South-Saxons were subject to Wessex, having been subdued by Caedwalla (659?-689) in 686. With the names of other South Saxon kings, under-kings, or ealdormen, the name of Osmund appears in late copies of charters preserved in the register of the church of Chichester." 2

Osmund (fl. 803), Bishop of London, "succeeded bishop Heathobert, who died in 801, and was probably consecrated by Archbishop Æthelheard on his return from Rome in 802." 2

Saint Osmund or Osmer (d. 1099), Bishop of Salisbury, was, "according to a fifteenth-century document preserved in the Register B at Salisbury, son of Henry, count of Seez, by Isabella, daughter of Robert, Duke of Normandy, and sister of William the Conqueror. He accompanied William to England, was one of the royal chaplains, and was eventually made chancellor, probably on the promotion of Osbern or Osbert (d. 1103) to be Bishop of Exeter in March 1072. " 2

Early Origins of the Osman family

The surname Osman was first found in Dorset at Melbury Osmond, a village and civil parish in the union of Beaminster, hundred of Yetminster 3 that dates back to 1283 when it was first listed as Melebur Osmund. "Melbury" roughly means "multi-coloured fortified place" from the Old English "maele" + burh." 4 Hence collectively the place name meant "fortified place of a man called Osmund." 4 Little is known about the place name other than the parish church, St. Osmund's was thought to have been built before 1550. It was completely rebuilt in 1745. 3

Used both as a surname and forename, early Gloucestershire records show Osemundus clericus (the cleric) there in 1222. Roger Hosemund was listed in the Feet of Fines for Northumberland in 1199 and Robert Osemund was found in Norfolk in 1221. 5

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 prove the widespread use of the name by this time: John de Osemundeston Norfolk; Geoffrey Osmund, Devon; and Nicholas Osemund, Surrey. Later the Writs of Parliament recorded Richard Osmund, Middlesex, 1313; and John Osmond, Hertfordshire., 1315. 6

In neighbouring Devon, the variants Osmer, Hosmer and Usmar claim ancestry back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where they were collectively recorded as Osmar and Osmer. 7 These variants derived their names from the Old English word meaning "god-fame," whereas the former names derived their name from the Old English word for "god-protector." 5 Early records include William Osmere who was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1230 and later, Osmer ater Dune in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. The last entry was as a forename and in this case, it was derived from an the Anglo-Saxon personal name. 8

One source claims "Osmœr was the name of the English soldier whose head, when he was killed by Eadric at the battle of Sceorstan (A.D. 1016), was boastingly paraded as that of King Eadmund, whom Osmær was said to closely resemble." 9

Early History of the Osman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Osman research. Another 146 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1555, 1603, 1649, 1658, 1660, 1663 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Osman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Osman 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 Osmond, Osmund, Osmont, Osmonde, Osmand, Osman, Ozment, Ozmond, Hosmer, Usmar and many more.

Early Notables of the Osman family

Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Osman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Osman Ranking

In the United States, the name Osman is the 9,203^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 10

Osman 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 Osman or a variant listed above:

Osman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Adam Osman, who immigrated to Virginia in 1623
Adam Osman, who arrived in Virginia in 1653 11
John Osman, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 11

Osman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Wilhelm Osman, who arrived in New York, NY in 1782 11

Osman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Osman, who landed in America in 1804 11

Osman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Osman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Philip Osman, who landed in Canada in 1828
Jacob Osman, who landed in Canada in 1832

Osman migration to Australia +

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

Osman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Osman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Constitution" in 1851 12
Henry Osman, aged 33, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" 13
Mr. Frederick Osman, English convict who was convicted in Winchester, Hampshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Edwin Fox" on 24th August 1858, arriving in Western Australia, Australia
Mr. George Osman, Cornish sawyer who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "S W Bensley" in 1817 convicted at Sydney Gaol on 21st March 1863 14
Mr. George Osman, Cornish sawyer who immigrated to New South Wales, Australia aboard the ship "S W Bensley" in 1816 convicted at Sydney Gaol on 18th December 1863 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Osman 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:

Osman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

L. E. Osman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anazi" in 1875
Francis Osman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anazi" in 1875
Frank A. Osman, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Abeona" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Osman (post 1700) +

Dan Osman (1963-1998), Asian-American extreme sport practitioner
Donny Osman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Vermont, 2000 15
Mike Osman (b. 1959), English radio presenter, impressionist and entertainer
Mat Osman (b. 1967), English musician
Abdul Osman (b. 1987), Ghanaian-born English footballer
Susan Osman, British journalist and news presenter for the BBC
Russell Osman (b. 1959), former England international footballer
Matthew Osman (b. 1983), Central Coast Mariners F.C. footballer
Magued Osman, Egyptian academic
Levent Osman (b. 1977), Australian footballer of Turkish descent
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Osman family +

RMS Titanic

Mr. Frank Osman, aged 28, English Able Seaman from Itchen, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 2 16

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
"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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONSTITUTION 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Constitution.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 15th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Pestonjee Bomanjee 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/hyderabad1854.shtml
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_gaol_admissions.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html