Norman Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Norman last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
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Meaning and origin of the Norman last name
Meaning of the Norman last name: northman, Norseman. Norman comes from an Old English word meaning "man from the north", first used for Scandinavians and later for the people of Normandy. It was also a personal name in England before 1066. The surname is common in southern and eastern England, especially Somerset, Devon and Norfolk. A curious detail: in the Scottish Highlands, Norman was used as the English form of the Gaelic first name Tormod, a favourite among the MacLeods.
Arms associated with the Norman name
A curious English detail: younger sons added small marks to their father's arms, so brothers named Norman could each carry a slightly different shield.
Get your full Norman family history
This is only a glimpse of the Norman story. The full Norman history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Norman coat of arms. Get the full Norman report.
Norman name FAQ
What does the Norman name mean?
Northman, Norseman. Common variants include Normand, Normann, Northman.
Where does the Norman surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Norway.
Is there a Norman coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Norman coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.