Osmun is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in
England with the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Osmun family lived in
Dorset. The name, however, is a reference to
Osmandville, on the River Bire in Bessin,
Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066.
Early Origins of the Osmun family
The surname Osmun was first found in
Dorset at Melbury Osmond, a village and civil parish in the union of Beaminster,
hundred of Yetminster that dates back to 1283 when it was first listed as Melebur Osmund. "Melbury" roughly means "multi-coloured fortified place" from the Old English "maele" + burh."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) Hence collectively the place name meant "fortified place of a man called Osmund."
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) Little is known about the place name other than the parish church, St. Osmund's was thought to have been built before 1550. It was completely rebuilt in 1745.
Early History of the Osmun family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Osmun research.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 155 and 1555 are included under the topic Early Osmun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Osmun Spelling Variations
Endless
spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Osmond, Osmund, Osmont, Osmonde, Osmand, Osman, Ozment and many more.
Early Notables of the Osmun family (pre 1700)
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Osmun Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Osmun family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the political and religious persecution within
England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Osmun or a variant listed above: Adam Osman, who immigrated to Virginia in 1623; John Osmond, who settled in Maryland in 1749; David Osmond, who came to Nova Scotia in 1793;
Lewis Osmond, who settled in Philadelphia in 1793.
Contemporary Notables of the name Osmun (post 1700)
- William E. Osmun (b. 1850), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1907; Delegate to Michigan State Constitutional Convention 23rd District, 1907-08 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html - Gilbert R. Osmun (b. 1845), American Republican politician, Secretary of State of Michigan, 1887-90 [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html