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Herman History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Herman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France
Germany
Ireland

The name Herman was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from Herman or Hermannus. 1 The names are really the same; it was a common practice for scribes to record a given name in the Latin style, where us is the masculine suffix. The personal name meant warrior having derived from the Old French word hermant, or from the Old German words hariman or hereman, all of which meant "warrior." 1

This name came to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest in 1066. However, not all of the family moved to England as Ralph, William, Richard and Hugh Herman were all listed in Normandy in 1180. 2

Early Origins of the Herman family

The surname Herman was first found in Norfolk where Willelmus Harmannus, who was listed in 1208 in the St. Benet of Holme (1020-1240), and is generally considered to be the first record of the name. Another branch was found in Sussex where William de Hermer was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Sussex in 1207. Simone Haremere was listed in the Subsidy Rolls in Sussex in 1296, and later, William Harmere was listed in 1428. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two listings using older spellings: Nicholas Herman in Suffolk; and Cecilia Hereman in Huntingdonshire.

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Thomas Herman and Ricardus Harman as residing there at that time. 3

Haremere Hall near Etchingham, East Sussex was home to this branch since the 12th century. By the 1600's the hall had fallen from their hands and was held by James Temple, one of the judges at the trial of King Charles I. Today it is now a Grade I listed Jacobean building and is still held in private hands.

Early History of the Herman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Herman research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1101, 1440, 1480, 1535, 1547, 1549, 1567, 1621, 1640, 1646 and 1673 are included under the topic Early Herman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herman Spelling Variations

Herman has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Herman have been found, including Harman, Harmon, Harriman, Herman, Hernon, Hermanson, Harnum and many more.

Early Notables of the Herman family

Distinguished members of the family include William Horman (c. 1440-1535), headmaster at Eton and Winchester, best known for his Latin grammar textbook the Vulgaria. He was born at Salisbury, and educated partly at Winchester. 4 Thomas Harman (fl. 1567), was an English writer on beggars, grandson of Henry Harman, clerk of the crown under Henry VII, who obtained about 1480 the estates of Ellam and Maystreet in Kent. Thomas's father, William Harman, added to these estates the manor of Mayton or Maxton in the same county. As his father's heir, Thomas inherited all this...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Herman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herman Ranking

In the United States, the name Herman is the 727^th most popular surname with an estimated 39,792 people with that name. 5 However, in France, the name Herman is ranked the 1,565^th most popular surname with an estimated 3,803 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Herman family to Ireland

Some of the Herman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Herman migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hermans to arrive on North American shores:

Herman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Nathaniel Herman, who landed in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1640 7
Margarita Herman, who landed in Maryland in 1665 7
Judith Herman, who landed in Maryland in 1665 7
Jane Herman, who landed in Maryland in 1665 7
Casper Herman, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Herman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Joost Herman, who landed in New York in 1709 7
Philippus Herman, who landed in New York in 1709 7
Jost Herman, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 7
Johannes Herman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 7
Joh Leonhardt Herman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Herman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Sebastian Herman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1802 7
Esteban Herman, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1803 7
Frederick Herman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1804 7
John G Herman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 7
Luring Herman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1806 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Herman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

George Herman, who arrived in Arkansas in 1901 7
Gustav Herman, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 7

Herman migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Herman Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Laurent Herman, son of Jean and Marie, who married Marie Agahte, daughter of Sébastien and Catherine, in Quebec on 7th October 1663 8

Herman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Philip Herman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1757
Bernhard Herman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Catharina Herman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Elisabeth Herman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Henritta Herman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Herman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Karol Herman, who landed in Quebec in 1896
Nicola Herman, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1897
Nykola Herman, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1897
Panko Herman, who landed in Canada in 1897

Herman migration to Australia +

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

Herman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Herman, (b. 1820), aged 22, English tailor who was convicted in London, England for 10 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Emerald Isle" on 25th June 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1846 9
John Herman, aged 28, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 10
Samuel Herman, aged 22, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 10
Joseph Herman, aged 25, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Sea Park" 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Herman (post 1700) +

David Jon "Dave" Herman (1941-2022), American NFL and AFL professional football offensive guard
Paul Herman (1946-2022), American Screen Actors Guild Award winning actor, best known for American Hustle (2013), Heat (1995) and Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Robin Herman (1951-2022), American writer and journalist, the first female sports journalist for The New York Times
William Herman, American politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 34th District, 1938
William Herman, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 1st District, 1926
W. C. Herman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from South Dakota, 1932
Tom Herman, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 2008
Samuel Herman, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Bronx County 3rd District, 1930
Ruth Herman, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Florida, 1972
Ruby Herman (b. 1885), American politician, Bookkeeper; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington 1st District, 1924, 1928
... (Another 40 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Herman family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Harold Herman, British Chief Petty Officer Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 11

Monongah Mine

Mr. Jonathan Herman (b. 1871), "Harriman", Greek coal miner who was in mine 6 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 12

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Albert Herman, English Able-Bodied Seaman from Litherland, Lancashire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 13

RMS Titanic

Mr. Samuel Herman (d. 1912), aged 49, English Second Class passenger from Yeovil, Somerset who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 14
Mrs. Jane Herman, (née Laver), aged 48, English Second Class passenger from Yeovil, Somerset who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 14
Miss Alice Herman, aged 24, English Second Class passenger from Yeovil, Somerset who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 14
Miss Kate Herman, aged 24, English Second Class passenger from Yeovil, Somerset who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 9 14

Triangle Waist Company

Ms. Mary Herman (b. 1871), Austrian Jewish garment worker who was working at Triangle Waist Company factory at the Asch building in Greenwich Village on the 25th March 1911 when fire broke out; she died in the fire 15

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emily
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEA PARK 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/seapark1852.shtml
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire (retrieved on 3rd August 2021.) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire