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Shearman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Shearman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Israel

The German surname Shearman emerged in the lands that formed the powerful German state of Prussia, which at one time was an immense German territory that stretched from France and the Low Countries to the Baltic sea and Poland. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the German territories were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known as Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. Brandenburg-Prussia was essentially the birthplace of modern Germany. By the 19th century, Brandenburg-Prussia had incorporated East Prussia, West Prussia and many other German territories. Moreover, in the late 19th century, it led the German states in German Unification.

Early Origins of the Shearman family

The surname Shearman was first found in Prussia, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the many regions within Prussia in the Middle Ages. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the Prussian nation.

Early History of the Shearman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shearman research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1390, 1396, 1623, 1686, 1783, 1825, 1829, 1874 and 1893 are included under the topic Early Shearman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shearman Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Shearman include Schirrmann, Schirmann, Schirrman, Schuermann, Schurmann, Schurman, Scherman, Sherman (English), Schirmer and many more.

Early Notables of the Shearman family

Notable figures of the time with the name Shearman were David Schirmer (1623-1686), a German lyric poet and librarian, who also used the pseudonyms Der Bestimmende, Der Beschirmende and DiSander; Gustav Schirmer (1829-1893), who founded the publishing firm...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shearman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shearman migration to the United States +

Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Shearman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Philip Shearman, who arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1633 1
John Shearman, who arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1634 1
Abra Shearman, who landed in Virginia in 1648 1

Shearman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jurigh Shearman, aged 17, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 1
Simon Shearman, aged 49, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 1

Shearman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

H Shearman, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 1
William Shearman Shearman, who landed in Texas in 1835 1
Henry Shearman, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1855 1

Shearman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shearman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Sand Shearman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Mr. Adrian Shearman U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 2

Shearman migration to Australia +

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

Shearman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Shearman, British convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 3
Robert Shearman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Abberton" in 1846 4
Eldred Shearman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Helena" in 1850 5
William Shearman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Statesman" in 1850 6
James Shearman, aged 25, a gardener, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Marshall Bennett" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Shearman (post 1700) +

Thomas Shearman, American co-founder of Shearman & Sterling LLP, a law firm headquartered in New York City in 1873
William Shearman (1767-1861), English physician and medical writer, born at Harwich, Essex
Sir Harold C. Shearman (1964-1966), British Labour politician, Chairman of the Greater London Council
Simon Max Shearman (b. 1964), former English cricketer
James Shearman (1970-2004), English composer, arranger and conductor, Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (2004), best known for his prolific work on as many as 53 Hollywood movies
Donald Norman Shearman (b. 1926), Australian former bishop of the Anglican Church of Australia
Sir Montague Shearman (1857-1930), English judge and athlete, co-founder of the Amateur Athletics Association in 1880
Linda Shearman, British gold, two-time silver and bronze medalist competitive ice dancer in the 1960s
Robert Osborne Shearman (1939-1999), Australian rules footballer
John Kinder Gowran Shearman (1931-2003), English art historian
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Shearman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Felix sua sorte contentus
Motto Translation: Happy, contented with his lot

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)
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 January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABBERTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Abberton.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PANAMA 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850PrincessHelena.gif
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STATESMAN 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Statesman.gif
South Australian Register Friday 29 April 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marshall Bennett 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marshallbennett1853.shtml