Show ContentsBadman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Badman surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Badman began when someone in that family worked as a boatman. The surname Badman is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word bat, which means a boat. 1 In some cases, the name is also derived from the Old English word bate, which means one who contends, but this word is most often found as the root of the name Bater.

Early Origins of the Badman family

The surname Badman was first found in Herefordshire at Shobdon, a parish, in-the union of Leominster, hundred of Stretford. "The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £5. 7. 11.; net income, £764; patron, Lord Bateman. The church, which is the burial-place of the Bateman family, was partially rebuilt in 1757, by John, Viscount Bateman. The rent of several acres of land, and the proceeds of some minor benefactions, are distributed among the poor. " 2

Old Hutton in Westmorland was another family seat. "Bleaze Hall, for several centuries the seat of the Batemans, was a large and elegant mansion, which still retains traces of its former consequence in a fine oak-wainscoted room, dated 1624." 2

One of the first records of the family was William Bateman (1298?-1355), "Bishop of Norwich, who is also called, from his birthplace, William of Norwich. His father was one of the principal citizens of Norwich, having no less than eleven times filled the office of bailiff of the city (Norwich had no mayor till 1403), of which he sat as the representative in the parliament of 1326-1327." 3

Early History of the Badman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Badman research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1298, 1355, 1480, 1560, 1573, 1584, 1626, 1644, 1663, 1687 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Badman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Badman Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Badman has appeared include Bateman, Batman, Bademan, Badman, Pateman, Padman, Pademan and many more.

Early Notables of the Badman family

Notables of this surname at this time include: William Bateman (c.1298-1355), Bishop of Norwich and founder of Trinity College, Cambridge, who was sent to Avignon, to present the English King's claim to the French throne to the Pope; Robert Bateman (1560-1644), an English merchant and politician, London City Chamberlain (1626-1644); and...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Badman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Badman family to Ireland

Some of the Badman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Badman migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Badman arrived in North America very early:

Badman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Badman, who landed in New York in 1664 4
Badman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Izaac Badman, who landed in New York in 1709 4

Australia Badman migration to Australia +

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

Badman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Archibald Badman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1849 5
  • Joseph Badman, aged 3, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1849 5
  • Mattheas Badman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1849 5
  • Hannah Badman, aged 28, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1849 5
  • Archibald Badman, aged 23, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Badman 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:

Badman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Badman, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Clifford
  • Samuel Badman, aged 29, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • Emma Badman, aged 34, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • Kezia Badman, aged 10, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • Charles Badman, aged 9, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Titanic
  • Miss Emily Louisa Badman, aged 18, English Third Class passenger from Clevedon, North Somerset who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking in collapsible C 6


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. 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)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook