Show ContentsBuckman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Buckman

What does the name Buckman mean?

The origins of the Anglo-Saxon name Buckman come from its first bearer, who was a person who shared a fanciful resemblance with a goat or a male deer. The name is derived from either the Old English word buc, meaning he goat, or male deer. This name would originally have been applied to someone one thought resembled a he-goat or male deer. 1

Interestingly, there may a Norman connection as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists Radulphus de Bucca as living in Normandy in 1180. 2

Early Origins of the Buckman family

The surname Buckman was first found in Norfolk, where the name has been "represented in the county as far back as the 13th century. The name of Buck is now most numerous around Norwich." 3

However, by the late 13th century, the name was scattered throughout ancient Britain. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Robert Bok, Huntingdonshire; Richard Boke, Oxfordshire; Robert de le Buk, Essex; and Thomas Buk, Cambridgeshire as all holding lands at that time. 4

Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Robertus Buk, proving that the Latin version of naming was still in use at that time. 4

By the 15th century, some of the family were found further north in Scotland. There John Buc, was a charter witness in Glasgow, 1495. A few years later, Thomas Buk from Dunfermline had a remission in 1508. Alexander Buk was admitted Burgess of Aberdeen, 1506, and Duncan Buk held that position in 1560. 5

Early History of the Buckman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buckman research. Another 224 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1313, 1400, 1540, 1560, 1591, 1622, 1658, 1696, 1753 and 1779 are included under the topic Early Buckman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buckman Spelling Variations

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. Buckman has been spelled many different ways, including Buck, Bucke, Buch, Buke and others.

Early Notables of the Buckman family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir John Buck, Sheriff of Lincolnshire. Sir George Buck (1560-1622), was an antiquarian who served as Master of the Revels to King James I of England. "He was descended from a good family which had formerly held large estates in Yorkshire and Suffolk. For taking the side of King Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field his ancestors were deprived of most of...
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Buckman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buckman Ranking

In the United States, the name Buckman is the 5,717th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 6


Buckman migration to the United States +

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 Buckmans to arrive in North America:

Buckman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Buckman, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1651 7
  • Widow Buckman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 7
  • Edward Buckman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 7
  • Joan Bagham Buckman, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1682 7
  • William Buckman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 7
Buckman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Buckman, who arrived in Georgia in 1733 7
  • Jacob Buckman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 7
  • Anth Buckman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1794 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Buckman (post 1700) +

  • Tara Buckman (b. 1956), American television and film actress
  • J. Y. Buckman, American politician, Member of Dakota Territorial House of Representatives, 1862-63 8
  • J. D. Buckman Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Member of Kentucky State House of Representatives 33rd District, 1950-51, 1960-61; Member of Kentucky State Senate, 1962-69 8
  • Ira Buckman Jr., American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 6th District, 1866 8
  • H. H. Buckman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Gold Democrat National Convention from Florida, 1896 8
  • G. H. Buckman, American Republican politician, Speaker of the Kansas State House of Representatives, 1911-12 8
  • Ernie Buckman, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 18th District, 1986 8
  • Clarence Jay Buckman (1879-1943), American Republican politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1909-10; Member of Pennsylvania State Senate 10th District, 1911-38 8
  • Clarence Bennett Buckman (1851-1917), American Republican politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives, 1881-83; Member of Minnesota State Senate, 1887-91, 1899-1903 8
  • Ada L. Buckman (1890-1982), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1928, 1944, 1948 8
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hillcrest Coal Mine
  • Mr. Albert Buckman (1889-1914), American Company Man from United States who worked in the Hillcrest Coal Mine, Alberta, Canada and died in the mine collapse 9


The Buckman 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: Fide et fortitudine
Motto Translation: By fidelity and fortitude.


Suggested Readings for the name Buckman +

  • The Buckman Family of Maryland and Kentucky by Mary Louise Donnelly.
  • A Bucknam/Buckman Genealogy: Some Descendants of William Bucknam of Charlestown and Malden, and John Buckman of Boston by Ann Thepold Chaplin.

  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. 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)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. 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)
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. List Of Miners - Hillcrest Mine Disaster Data. (Retrieved 2014, June 24) . Retrieved from http://www.hillcrestminedisaster.com/data/index.php?title=List_Of_Miners


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