| {{ad}} |
|
|
|
| Origins Available: |
| | England |
The name Hitchman is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the Highmore family who lived in Cumberland in Armathwaite. The surname Hitchman originally derived from this family who later branched to Liverpool. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.
The surname Hitchman was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat in the vicinity of what is now Liverpool. Although many historians believe the name to mean a relationship to a brother in law, we think this to be too convenient, over simplified. It is most likely to be an interpretation of Highmore, a Cumberland family of Armathwaite, a branch of which moved south to Liverpool in early times before the area was even known as Liverpool.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hitchman research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1584 and 1591 are included under the topic Early Hitchman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Hitchman has been spelled many different ways, including Hitchmough, Hichmough, Hitchmow, Hichmow, Hickmough, Hickmow, Hitchmoe, Hickmott, Hitchmo, Hickmoe, Hytchmough, Hytchmoe, Hytchmow and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Hitchman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Hitchmans to arrive in North America: