Show ContentsCoulmen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the English name Coulmen in the northern counties are with the Irish personal name Colmán, which is in turn derived from the word "colm," meaning "dove." St. Columban (c. 540-615) of Ireland was a missionary in Europe, and forms of his name were adopted throughout Europe, where they were later adopted into surnames. It was "ancient Anglo-Saxon personal name mentioned by Bede." 1

It is thought that the Norwegians then brought the name to Cumberland, Westmorland and Yorkshire. In southern England, Coulmen finds its roots in the Old English workd "col," referring to "coal." In this instance the name was occupational for someone who gathered coal, or burned charcoal.

Early Origins of the Coulmen family

The surname Coulmen was first found in Buckinghamshire, where a record from the Pipe Rolls of 1176 show a Colemannus de Eston. 2 The name can also be found in Southern England in the Domesday Book, 3 where it was first listed as a personal name as in Colemannus.

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the name as a personal name and a surname: Coleman le Hen in Suffolk, 1273; Editha Colman in Oxfordshire; and Martin Coleman in London. Much later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Matilda Colman as residing there and holding lands at that time. 4

Early History of the Coulmen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coulmen research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1551, 1595, 1598, 1615, 1617, 1618, 1621, 1623, 1636, 1647, 1660, 1664, 1669, 1678, 1834, 1836, 1838, 1840, 1847, 1849, 1863, 1890 and 1929 are included under the topic Early Coulmen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coulmen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Colman, Coleman, Coalman, Coulman, Colemen, Colmen, Coalmen, Colmin, Colmen, Coulmen, Coulmin, Colemin and many more.

Early Notables of the Coulmen family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Thomas Coleman (1598-1647), English divine, a native of Oxford, entered Magdalen Hall in 1615, graduated B.A. in 1618, M.A. in 1621. 5Roger Colman (c 1623-1660), was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660.Edward Colman or Coleman (1636-1678), was an English Catholic courtier under Charles II of England; he was hanged, drawn and quartered on a treason charge, having been implicated by Titus Oates in his false accusations concerning a Popish...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coulmen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coulmen family to Ireland

Some of the Coulmen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Coulmen family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Coleman, who arrived in America from Marlborough in Wiltshire, England; Thomas Coleman settled in Newbury, and later Boston, Massachusetts. He was under contract, but not indentured to Sir Richard Saltonstall, to keep his cattle. He was ".



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  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. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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