Freeman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Freeman

What does the name Freeman mean?

The surname Freeman is a ancient Anglo-Saxon name whose history dates back to the days before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is derived from "freomann" or "frigmann," Old English words and personal names meaning "free-born man." 1 2 3

We did find this interesting take on the origin of the name: "In the early days of feudalism two neighbours bearing some common Christian name would be distinguished by epithets denoting their respective conditions, as John le Freeman and John le Bonde, and these epithets would often become family names. In the Hundredorum Rolls we have not only many Le Fremans, but also one Matilda Frewoman, and an Agnes Frewif, or free wife, probably the wife of a bondman." 4

Early Origins of the Freeman family

The surname Freeman was first found in the county of Essex, where it was borne as a personal name by Freman Sceil in 1188. The first recorded instance of Freeman as a surname appeared shortly thereafter; William Freman was listed in the Feet of Fines of Norfolk in 1196. A few years later, Reginald le Freman was found in the Assize Rolls for Worcestershire in 1221 and Osbert Friman was listed in the Liber Feodorum 5 for Bedfordshire in 1240. As a forename, Freman Sceil was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Essex in 1188. 6

Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: John le Freman, Huntingdonshire; and Geoffrey le Freman, Buckinghamshire. 7

"This name is confined to the centre of England and to the adjoining eastern and western counties. Two lines drawn west from the Wash and the Thames to the Welsh border will roughly include the principal area of this name, which for au area of its size is remarkably well defined. It is at present most numerous in Suffolk and in Worcester; and likely enough the Freemans of the west and of the east may owe their surname to different events in the history of our country. Not improbably "Freeman" early appeared as an appellation in the counties bordering Wales, since we learn that in the 10th century the Welsh captives, reduced to slavery, were so numerous in the English shires on the border that the proportion of slaves to freemen would seem to have been unusually large. " 8

The first record of the family in Scotland was Jacob Freman del counte de Pebbles who rendered homage to King Edward I of England in 1296. 9

Early History of the Freeman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Freeman research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1575, 1610, 1611, 1627, 1630, 1645, 1646, 1655, 1667, 1670, 1680, 1710, 1720, 1723, 1794, 1821 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Freeman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freeman Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Freeman include Freeman, Fryman, Friman and others.

Early Notables of the Freeman family

Francis Freeman (c.1645), a British religious writer; and John Freeman (fl. 1611), an English divine, matriculated in the University of Cambridge as a sizar of Trinity College, 26 Nov. 1575. 10
John Freeman (fl. 1670-1720), was an English painter who had some repute as a history painter in the reign of Charles II; Sir Ralph Freeman (fl. 1610-1655), was English civilian and dramatist, who was...
Susannah Freeman (1667-1723), was a famous British actress credited under many names, such as Susannah Fox and Susannah Carroll; Thomas Freeman (d. 1821), an Irish-born engineer and astronomer; and Jo...
Thomas Freeman (fl. 1655-1680) was an English buccaneer and pirate active in the Caribbean. He is best known for attacking the Spanish alongside Henry Morgan, David Marteen, and John Morris

Freeman World Ranking

the United Kingdom, the name Freeman is the 207^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,270 people with that name. 11 However, in Australia, the name Freeman is ranked the 176^th most popular surname with an estimated 17,943 people with that name. 12 And in New Zealand, the name Freeman is the 291^st popular surname with an estimated 2,089 people with that name. 13 Canada ranks Freeman as 596^th with 8,448 people. 14 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Freeman as 751^st with 57 people. 15 The United States ranks Freeman as 123^rd with 184,038 people. 16

Migration of the Freeman family to Ireland

Some of the Freeman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 150 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Freeman migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet

Mr. Richard Freeman, (b. 1736), aged 53, British settler convicted in Essex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 17

Third Fleet

Mr. James Freeman, (b. 1767), aged 20, English labourer convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire on 3rd March 1784, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 18
Mr. Robert Freeman, (b. 1757), aged 30, English settler convicted in London on 8th December 1784, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Alexander" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788 18
Mr. Thomas Freeman, (1735 - 1797), British clerk to the Captain on the Navy support ship for the First Fleet the "HMS Sirius" leaving in 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1788

Following the First and Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Freeman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Freeman, (Lapish, Ingram), British Convict who was convicted in Leeds, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. Samuel Freeman, (b. 1785), aged 15, English millwright who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1855 18
Mr. Thomas Freeman, British Convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. George Freeman, (Cattle), English shoe maker who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
John Freeman, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Almorah" on April 1817, settling in New South Wales, Australia 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freeman migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Freeman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Freeman, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
J S Freeman, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Westminster
Thomas Graham Freeman, aged 39, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Margaret Freeman, aged 33, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
Ann Elizabeth Freeman, aged 15, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freeman migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 21

Freeman Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Miss Elizabeth Freeman, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler traveling aboard the ship "John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 22
Mr. Thomas Freeman, (b. 1616), aged 19, British settler travelling aboard the ship "Expedition" arriving in Barbados in 1636 23

Freeman Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Arthur Freeman, who landed in Antigua (Antego) in 1785 24

Freeman migration to Canada +

Freeman Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Freeman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Robert Freeman, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749
William Freeman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
James Freeman, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Benjamin Freeman U.E. who settled in Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 25
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freeman Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Frederick Freeman, aged 12, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Ranger" in 1834
Bridger Freeman, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1838
Mr. Pheasant Freeman, aged 59, English farmer, settled in Rochester, Ontario prior to the 1871 Census of Canada 26
Mrs. Sarah Freeman, aged 56, English settler, settled in Rochester, Ontario prior to the 1871 Census of Canada 26
Miss Mary Freeman, aged 29, English settler, settled in Rochester, Ontario prior to the 1871 Census of Canada 26
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freeman Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Arthur Ben Freeman, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Freeman migration to the United States +

Freeman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Bernardns Freeman, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1620 24
Domine Bernardus Freeman, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1620 24
Ralph Freeman who settled in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Margaret & John", he died in 1624
Thomas Freeman, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 24
Bridges Freeman, who landed in Virginia in 1623 24
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freeman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Edward Freeman, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 24
Thomas Freeman, who arrived in America in 1706 24
Abraham Freeman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1731 24
Abram Freeman, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 24
Georg Freeman, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 24
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freeman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Freeman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 24
Thomas D Freeman, who landed in America in 1809 24
Bernard Freeman, aged 34, who landed in Missouri in 1840 24
Anthony Freeman, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 24
Joseph Freeman, aged 26, who arrived in New York in 1849 24
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Freeman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Andrew Freeman, who arrived in Alabama in 1920 24

Contemporary Notables of the name Freeman (post 1700) +

Morgan Porterfield Freeman Jr. (b. 1937), American Academy Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award winning actor, film director, and narrator, currently ranked as the 3rd highest box office star
Martin John Christopher Freeman (b. 1971), English Emmy Award, BAFTA Award and an Empire Award winning actor, best known for portraying Tim Canterbury in The Office and Dr. John Watson in the British crime drama Sherlock
Clive Freeman (1962-2024), English footballer
Ronald Peter "Percy" Freeman (1945-2016), English footballer
James Freeman (1759-1835), American Unitarian clergyman and writer, the first avowed preacher of Unitarianism in the United States, founding member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Roger Norman Freeman PC (1942-2025), Baron Freeman, British politician, served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in the Cabinet of Prime Minister John Major (1995-1997), Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Kettering (1983-1997)
George Freeman (1927-2025), American jazz guitarist and recording artist
Virgie Lee Freeman (1920-1990), née Caywood, American corporal in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Frederick Charles "Freddie" Freeman (b. 1989), American Major League Baseball first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball, MVP in 2020 and 2024
... (Another 42 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Freeman family +

Empress of Ireland

Mrs. Mary Freeman (1869-1914), née Massoth American Second Class Passenger from West Allis, Wisconsin, United States who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 27
Mr. Henry Freeman (1865-1914), American Second Class Passenger from West Allis, Wisconsin, United States who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 28
Mr. Mason Freeman, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 28
Mr. Thomas Mcilroy Freeman (b. 1918), Scottish Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve ordinary seaman from Renfrewshire, Scotland was stationed aboard the "HMS Halsted" when it was struck by torpedo by Jaguar and Mowe of the Cherbourg coast on 11th June 1944, he did not survive
Mr. Mark H P Freeman (b. 1925), English Midshipman serving for the Royal Navy Reserve from England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29
... (Another 10 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Almorah voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1817 with 180 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/almorah/1817
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/daphne
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Canada, Library and Archives. (retrieved 8 Apr. 2020, www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/1871/Pages/1871.aspx.)
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm