Show ContentsFarman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Farman family

The surname Farman was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included some of the first listings of the family: Ricardus Forman; Johannes Forman; and Robertus Formain. All held estates there at that time. 1

However, another source notes that Alan Forman and Robert Fourman were both listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327. 2

Due to Yorkshire's geographic proximity to Scotland, its very probable that records there would reveal more family records. In Scotland, the name is "perhaps from English Forman (13th century), older Formann, Latinized Formannus. Robert Foreman of Edinburghshire rendered homage, [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. Adam Forman was scutifer to Arnchibald, earl of Douglas, 1426. John Forman witnessed sealing of an inquest anent a fishing on the Tweed, 1467, and in 1474 payment was made to John Forman, Scottish merchant." 3

Early History of the Farman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Farman research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1465, 1501, 1504, 1513, 1514, 1521, 1522, 1539, 1552, 1562, 1611, 1696, 1743 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Farman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Farman Spelling Variations

Although the name, Farman, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Forman, Foreman, Formon, Fourman and others.

Early Notables of the Farman family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Andrew Forman (c.1465-11 March 1522), a Scottish diplomat and prelate. He rose to become Archbishop of St. Andrews, and is said to have been one of the Formans of Hatton, near Berwick-on-Tweed. He also was Bishop of Moray in 1501, and Archbishop...
Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Farman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Farman family to Ireland

Some of the Farman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Farman migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Farman family name Farman, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Farman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Alice Farman, aged 28, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "James" 4
  • Mary Farman, aged 7, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "James" 4
  • Ralph Farman, aged 2, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "James" 4
  • Ralph Farman, aged 32, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "James" 4
  • Thomas Farman, aged 4, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "James" 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Farman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Farman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pa, in 1856 4
  • John Farman, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1860 4

Farman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Farman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Henry Farman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1841

Farman migration to Australia +

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

Farman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Charles Farman, English convict who was convicted in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 5
  • Mr. John Farman, (b. 1804), aged 27 who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 14 years for theft, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1869 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Farman (post 1700) +

  • Brigadier-General Ivan Lonsdale Farman (1902-1990), American Commanding General Army Airways Communications System (1945) 7
  • Elbert E. Farman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1872 8
  • C. H. Farman, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 3rd District, 1940 8
  • Joseph Charles Farman CBE (1930-2013), British geophysicist who worked for the British Antarctic Survey
  • Henri Farman (1874-1958), French pioneer aviator
  • Farman Patchen, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Woodbury, 1839 9


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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)
  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. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  7. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, February 29) Ivan Farman. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Farman/Ivan_Lonsdale/USA.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 1) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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