Kermen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Kermen

Kermen is a name that was formed by the Anglo-Saxon society of old Britain. The name was thought to have been used for someone who once worked as a churchwarden; the custodian of a church. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old Norman word kirkja, which meant church, and man, the Old English word for man. The original bearers of the name were responsible for taking care of the buildings and grounds of the local church, which was an honored occupation. The name is primarily found in the north of England, where the Old Norman language had a great impact due to the waves of immigration from Scandinavia in the 9th and 10th centuries. Norman is a contraction of Norsemen; we call them the Vikings. While they came for rapine and pillage, many of them stayed to raise families. There are many names in the north of England that show the influence of these settlers on the English language.

Early Origins of the Kermen family

Early History of the Kermen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kermen research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1259, 1270, 1273, 1379, 1662 and 1674 are included under the topic Early Kermen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kermen Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Kermen include Kirkman, Kirkeman, Kerman, Churchman, Kyrkman, Kyrkeman and many more.

Early Notables of the Kermen family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kermen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Kermen family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Kermen were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Sarah Kirkman who arrived in America in 1772; Elizabeth who sailed to America in 1775; James Kirkman, who came to Philadelphia in 1803; Henry Kirkman, who arrived in Baltimore in 1823 and William Kirkman, who came to Philadelphia in 1844..