Surname Firman - Meaning and Origin

Firman: What does the surname Firman mean?

The surname Firman is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derived from the Old English pre 7th Century "fyr", which means fire, and "mann", meaning man. Therefore, the original bearers of this surname likely held the occupational role of a fireman. However, this does not refer to the modern notion of a fire-fighter as firefighting tactics and systems were not yet developed. Instead, it applies to a person who tended a significant fire, for instance, for heating or industrial purposes such as in a forge or kiln. It's also plausible to relate the name to that of a man in charge of the hearth-fire in a religious dwelling. Often this job was a position of high honor in the community. Like other occupational surnames, the name started being used as a hereditary surname in England from the 13th and 14th centuries. The name is found in many medieval manuscripts throughout England.

Firman: Where does the name Firman come from?

The last name Firman originated from England. It's an occupational surname derived from the Middle English words "ferriman", meaning "a worker in iron" or "ironworker", or from "ferryman", indicating "a man who operates a ferry". In the Middle English period, job-related surnames were fairly common as descriptive identifiers. The surname Firman was first recorded in Norfolk where the Firman family held a family seat from early times.

Currently, Firman as a surname can be found globally due to emigration over centuries, but it is still most common in English-speaking countries, particularly Britain and the United States. There's also a significant presence of the Firman last name in Australia and Canada. It should be noted that the density of the surname may not be significantly high in these countries, but it's considered more common in these regions due to their connection to England and English language. The phone directories and electoral roll data suggest that the largest concentration of people with the Firman surname is in the county of Essex in England.

Variations of the surname Firman

The surname Firman has several variants and derivations from different locations and languages. The name Firman, of English origin, can be spelt differently to include: Furman, Foreman, Forman, Furminger, Ferman, Firmen, Furmen, Fermen and Formen. These alterations happen due to the shifts in pronunciation and phonetics over time and geographic regions. Some surnames identified as possible derivatives or connected in origin to Firman include the Dutch Verman and German Fuhrmann, which translates directly as "cart-man" or "teamster."

In some areas, particularly within Jewish(Eastern Ashkenazic) communities, these spelling variations are often seen: Fuerman or Fuhrmann. For example, the surname "Forman" is popular within Jewish and Eastern European communities, stemming from the Yiddish term for a wagon driver, indicating the diverse cultural origins of the name. These names may all be occupational, derived from the job of a foreman or supervisor, especially in transportation and trade professions. Variations of spelling and derivation continue to surface with changes in the pronunciation and the integration of languages.

Famous people with the name Firman

• Richard Firman: A British racing driver.
• Harry Firman: English footballer in the early 20th century.
• Edward Albert Firman: A British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.
• Gary Firman: American attorney who specializes in constitutional and criminal law.
• Mike Firman: An American comedian, musician, and writer, known for his comedy music duo ‘Hard ‘n Phirm’.
• Ron Firman: A former professional rugby league footballer.
• Rikki Firman: An Australian female paralympic athlete known for javelin throwing and shot put.
• Charles Firman: 19th century cricketer.
• George Firman: President of Firman Glass, a leading specialist glass manufacturer.
• Vernie Firman: Late 19th and early 20th century cricketer for Buckinghamshire.
• Ben Firman: a former professional footballer.
• Susie Firman: A philanthropist known for her support of animal welfare.
• Damian Firman: A renowned Australian cinematographer.
• Jennifer Firman: An Australian lawn bowler.
• Cindy Firman: An international equestrian.
• Chris Firman: British engineer and designer.
• Steve Firman: A wildlife artist.
• Daniel Firman: A French artist known for his sculptures.

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