Kirkman History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe founding heritage of the Kirkman family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Kirkman comes from when one of the family 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 Kirkman familyThe surname Kirkman was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from medieval times. Early History of the Kirkman familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirkman 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 Kirkman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Kirkman Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Kirkman has been spelled many different ways, including Kirkman, Kirkeman, Kerman, Churchman, Kyrkman, Kyrkeman and many more. Early Notables of the Kirkman familyDistinguished members of the family include
Kirkman RankingIn the United States, the name Kirkman is the 6,031st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Kirkmans to arrive in North America: Kirkman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Kirkman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Kirkman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
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