Coleman Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Coleman mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
Origin of the Coleman name
Coleman has two main origins. In England it was an occupational name for a charcoal burner or seller, from Middle English col, "charcoal", and man. In Ireland it anglicises Ó Colmáin, "descendant of Colmán", a pet form of colm, "dove", the name of many early saints. It is now common in England, Ireland and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Coleman name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Coleman name in England & Ireland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Coleman name FAQ
What does the Coleman name mean?
Charcoal burner; descendant of Colmán ("dove"). Common variants include Colman, Coalman, O'Colman.
Where does the Coleman surname come from?
It originates in England & Ireland, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Coleman coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Coleman crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Coleman coat of arms 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); MacLysaght, The Surnames of Ireland; US Census Bureau 2010.