PUTMAN
Putman is a surname with a multifaceted origin, incorporating elements from Dutch, Old English, and Anglo‑Norman traditions. It is frequently classified as a patronymic name, denoting a descent from an ancestor named Putte, a diminutive of Peter. The formation of the name follows the pattern of Putte plus the Germanic suffix -man, which yields the meaning “son of Putte” or “son of Peter.” This patronymic construction was a common method of surname formation in medieval England, especially among families of continental descent.
Concurrently, the surname has a distinct locational component. The villages of Puttenham in Hertfordshire and Surrey provide a geographical basis for an alternative derivation. The earliest documentary evidence of the place name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as
A further layer of meaning arises from the Old English combination of Putta with the suffix -mann. In this context Putta functions as a nickname meaning “hawk,” and mann denotes a person or worker. Consequently, the surname may have originally referred to a hawk-man, an individual who kept or bred hawks for use in medieval hunting. Hawks were regarded as symbols of nobility, and their care was often the remit of servants in the households of nobles or royalty. The occupational interpretation fits with the historical concentration of the surname in Norfolk, Cambridge and Devon, regions where estate hunting was historically prominent.
Variations of the surname have evolved over time and across regions. The Anglo‑Norman form Puttman appears in the 13th and 14th centuries, often spelled Putmane in Middle English records. The Germanic variant Putmann derives from the Old High German put, meaning “pond” or “pool,” and is documented in Bavaria from the 13th century. The spelling Puttenham remains tied to the English village of Puttenham and can be traced back to the 1500s. In the United States, the surname transformed into the Americanised form Putnam, the most common spelling in New England and recorded from the 1600s onwards.
In contemporary times the surname is uncommon but widespread. In the United Kingdom it can still be found in the historical regions of its origin, notably Hertfordshire and the surrounding counties. In North America genealogical records show a dispersed distribution across the United States, with entries in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Oregon. Australian states such as New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, as well as Canadian provinces, also contain families bearing the name. Although there is no single epicentre, the name’s presence in major metropolitan areas such as New York City and London reflects the movements of early immigrants and the lasting legacy of the surname’s diverse origins.
Typical given names associated with the Putman surname
Male
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Keith
- Michael
- Paul
- Raymond
- Richard
- Stephen
Female
- Brenda
- Ceri
- Helen
- Janet
- Jayne
- Joan
- Julia
- Lisa
- Michelle
- Pamela
- Patricia
- Ruth
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Putman in...
Braille
⠏⠥⠞⠍⠁⠝
Morse
.--...----.--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 755 people named Putman in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,168th most common surname in Britain. Around 12 in a million people in Britain are named Putman.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
