The Kirkeman name was coined by the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Kirkeman was originally a name given to someone who 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.
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Early Origins of the Kirkeman family
The surname Kirkeman was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from medieval times.
Early History of the Kirkeman family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirkeman 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 Kirkeman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Kirkeman Spelling Variations
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Kirkeman are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Kirkeman include: Kirkman, Kirkeman, Kerman, Churchman, Kyrkman, Kyrkeman and many more.
Early Notables of the Kirkeman family
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kirkeman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Kirkeman family
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Kirkeman or a variant listed above: 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..
