SHERMAN

In the British Isles, the surname Sherman originates from England and is identified as an occupational name. Its basis lies in Old English terminology. The element schere, meaning shears or scissors, combined with the suffix man(n), a status marker implying the person in charge, created a designation for a cloth‑finisher. Such a man trimmed the surface of fine cloth with shears to remove excess nap, a highly skilled occupation which in the 14th century in York was regulated by one of the most ancient guilds to which only the best artisans were admitted as members.

Alternative spellings recorded in historical documents include Shearman, Sharman and Shurman. Early evidence of the name can be traced to the 13th century, with references such as William le Shereman of London in 1281, John Sherman of Suffolk in 1327 and Philip Shareman of Essex in the same year. By the late 16th century the surname continued to appear in the registers of London churches, for example Richard Sharman, christened at St Botolph without Aldgate on 23 February 1599, and John Sherman, christened at St James in Clerkenwell.

The etymology of the surname has also been linked to the Old English words scir, meaning bright or shining, and mann, meaning man. Accordingly, the name may have been attributed to an individual noted for a bright or radiant personality or a conspicuous appearance, rendering the meaning “bright man” or “shining man.”

In England the family name was well known in the early 19th century when the construction and operation of fast mail and stage coaches expanded across the country. In the United States, the prominence of the name was amplified during the Civil War, when General William Tecumseh Sherman’s march through Georgia in 1864 and 1865 contributed to the eventual conclusion of the conflict.

The earliest documented instance of the family name is believed to be that of Roger Sereman, dated 1207, appearing in the register of the Freeman of the City of Leicester. This early record confirms the long-standing pedigree of the name within English society.

Typical given names associated with the Sherman surname

Male

• Andrew
• David
• James
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter
• Richard
• Robert

Female

• Ann
• Anne
• Christine
• Claire
• Emma
• Jennifer
• Julie
• Karen
• Lisa
• Margaret
• Mary
• Sarah
• Susan
• Victoria

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 Sherman in...

Braille

⠎⠓⠑⠗⠍⠁⠝

Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: Occupational name

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Sherman

• Richard Sherman - American football player
• William Tecumseh Sherman - American General, businessman, educator, and author (1820 to 1891)
• Alfred Sherman - Economist & journalist (1919 to 2006)
• Lawrence W. Sherman - American criminologist
• Howard Sherman - Cricketer
• Drew Sherman - Association football manager and football player
• John Sherman - Cricketer (1788 to 1861)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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