Surname Harman - Meaning and Origin

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Harman: What does the surname Harman mean?

The last name Harman is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Heremann" or "Hermann" which was composed of the elements "heri" meaning "army" and "mann" meaning "man". Thus, the original bearer of this surname was referred to as a "warrior" or a "soldier". The surname first appears in the early medieval period in England, and it became increasingly popular in the Middle Ages, mainly in Southern England and the Midlands. There are also German, Dutch, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) versions of the surname with the same or similar spellings, and these typically carry similar meanings. The surname has several variations including Harmon, Hermann, Armann, among others. It should be noted, just as with any surname, not every individual with the last name Harman will have ancestors who carried this original meaning.

Harman: Where does the name Harman come from?

The surname Harman is of Anglo-Saxon origin, primarily derived from the Old English personal name "Heremann," combining the elements "here," meaning army, and "mann," meaning man. It is essentially an occupational surname for a soldier or warrior. It first appeared in England during the Middle Ages as the population began to adopt hereditary surnames following the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the beginning, surnames were given based on a person's occupation, location, characteristics, or on a patronymic basis (based on the father's name). Hence, Harman could also have locational origins from a place called Hereman in Normandy.

Today, the Harman surname is common and popular in English-speaking nations, mainly the United Kingdom (especially in Essex and Kent), the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, it is also prevalent in some non-English speaking countries like Germany, considering its meaning is quite similar in German (‘here’ means army and ‘mann’ means man), hence it was used by German-Jewish families as an Americanized form of various like-sounding Jewish surnames. It may differ slightly in spelling across regions and countries, but the basic essence remains the same.

Variations of the surname Harman

The surname Harman has several variants, spellings, and related surnames, often depending on geographic location and cultural influence. The surname is of German origin but can also be found in English-speaking countries.

In the United States and United Kingdom, alternate spellings can include "Harmen", "Harmin", "Harmon", "Harmanson", and "Hermon". Also, phonetically similar surnames like "Herman" could be included due to similar pronunciation.

In German, it can be spelled "Herrmann" or "Hermann". Other Germanic variants include "Heremann", "Hereman", and "Hairman". The addition of suffixes such as "-son" or "-sen" can also create variations like "Harmanson" or "Hermansen".

In Dutch, it can be spelled as "Hermans" or "Heremans". A notable variant in this context is "Armand", which has French roots but is also common in Dutch-speaking countries.

There are also related surnames that incorporate "Harman" into a larger name structure. Examples of this include "Harmanowski", "Harmanescu", or "Harmanis".

Finally, it is important to note that spellings of the surname can may also be converted or modified due to translation between different scripts and languages, thus creating further potential variants.

Famous people with the name Harman

• Angela Harman: Renowned American screenwriter famous for her work on famous television series like 'Grey's Anatomy'.
• Angie Harman: Well-known American actress known for her role on 'Law & Order'.
• Trent Harmon: American country music singer who gained fame after winning the fifteenth season of 'American Idol'.
• Jane Harman: Democratic politician who served as a U.S. Representative from California.
• Lisa Harman: British actress known for her roles in television series like 'Ackley Bridge'.
• Jonny Harman: British actor popular for his role in popular television series including 'Danny and Mick'.
• Samantha Harman: Famous British editor working at high-profile editorial organizations like the Daily Mail.
• Guy Harman: American actor known for his role in 'The Fast and the Furious' series.
• Mark Harman: Veteran British film editor, known for his work in 'The Full Monty' and 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
• Steve Harman: Former team manager of the Collingwood Football Club in Australia.
• Elizabeth Harman: Famous American philosopher and professor at Princeton University.
• Harriet Harman: British politician serving as MP for Camberwell and Peckham since 1982.
• Winnie Harman: British author, best known for her autobiographical books.

Other surnames

HarmanciHarmann