Norman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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The Norman surname is ultimately derived from the Scandinavian word "noromenn," meaning "men from the north." It came to Britain with pre-Conquest Scandinavian settlers, and became a personal name among the Saxons. This name also came to Britain following the Norman conquest; in this instance, it was most likely a name for someone from the town of Normanville in the French province of Normandy. 1 2

They claim descent from "a branch of Basset of Normandy, descended from Hugh Fitz Osmond, who held in capite in Hants in 1086. From him came the barons of Normanville, a younger branch of whom held the barony till about 1500." 3

"Gerold de Nonnanville was a benefactor of Battle Abbey : his grant of 'Bocestepe ' was confirmed by Henry I. ; and in one of the charters of Henry, third Earl of Ewe, he is styled Dapifer mews. Norman de Normanville, according to the Liber Niger, was a Baron of Sussex in 1165. 'Not long after the Conquest, the Normanvilles held the towns of Empingham and Normanton in the county of Rutland. A Family of eminent note in those days for military affairs ; for I find that about the latter end of King John's reign Ralf de Nonnanville was sent by the King with forces to the defence of Kenilworth Castle against the rebellious barons ; and paid sixty marks, one Dextrarium (horse for the great saddle) and Palfrey for having the Farm of the Co. and Free Warren at Empingham. In 5 Henry III. the King ordered Henry de Nevill to deliver from Clive Forest six Oaks and six Furchias for the building of a certain Hall by him design'd to be built at Empingham. " 4

Early Origins of the Norman family

The surname Norman was first found in Suffolk, where a record from the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, shows a bearer of "Noroman" in 1066-70. The Domesday Book shows several bearers of the name in England in 1086. 5

However, there are several places named Normanby throughout Britain as literally the place name means "farmstead or village of the Northmen or Norwegian Vikings." 6

The parish of Merton in Surrey has an early record of the family. "In 1115, a convent built of wood, for Canons regular of the order of St. Augustine, was founded here by Gilbert Norman, sheriff of Surrey; and Henry I., in 1121, granted to the community a charter of incorporation and the manor of Merton." 7

As early as 1234 this surname distinguished themselves and early records show John Norman was Sheriff of the City of London in 1234 and later elected Lord Mayor in 1250. 8

Early History of the Norman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Norman research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1171, 1195, 1216, 1220, 1468, 1523, 1622, 1637, 1638, 1652, 1664, 1668, 1669, 1706 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Norman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Norman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Norman, Normanby, Normanville, Normand and others.

Early Notables of the Norman family

Notable among the family at this time was

Norman World Ranking

In the United States, the name Norman is the 396th most popular surname with an estimated 69,636 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Norman is ranked the 714th most popular surname with an estimated 7,470 people with that name. 10 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Norman is the 105th popular surname with an estimated 319 people with that name. 11 Australia ranks Norman as 365th with 9,933 people. 12 New Zealand ranks Norman as 433rd with 1,551 people. 13 The United Kingdom ranks Norman as 294th with 20,635 people. 14

Migration of the Norman family to Ireland

Some of the Norman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Norman migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Norman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Norman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Norman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Norman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Norman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Norman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Norman Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Norman migration to Australia +

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

Norman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Norman 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:

Norman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Norman migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22
Norman Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Norman (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Norman +
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