Surname Fourman - Meaning and Origin
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Fourman: What does the surname Fourman mean?
The last name Fourman is of German origin. It is a habitational name derived from the town of Fahren in the former Prussian province of East Prussia, which is now located in Lithuania.
The name "Fourman" is connected to the word "fahre" which translates to “a ferry crossing.” This may mean the original family made a living working ferry boats or living near the ferry service.
The Fourman surname first appears in records during the 15th century in the town of Fahren. One of the earliest recordings mentioning a Fourman ancestor is that of Fridericus Fourman, who was auntygated in 1494 in Fahren.
Today, the Fourman surname is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It is the 79,316th most common last name in the United States.
Family traditions say that the Fourman family crest includes a lion holding an anchor, which symbolizes the Fourman's nautical background. The lion is a common part of German family crests and symbolizes strength and courage.
The Fourman name stands for a hardworking and independent family, and the fact that the surname has survived for centuries proves the strength of the Fourman family.
Order DNA origin analysisFourman: Where does the name Fourman come from?
The last name Fourman is most commonly found in the United States today. According to the US Census in 2020, it is the 11,641st most common surname in the country. Fourman is more common in certain states, with the highest concentrations found in Indiana, Texas, and Kansas.
Fourman is also found in Canada and the United Kingdom, at slightly lower concentrations. This suggests that the surname is likely of European origin, most likely from German-speaking areas of central and eastern Europe. German surnames ending in "-man" usually indicate an occupation or status, and it is possible that Fourman originated from a German base word, such as form meaning "to shape".
A study of recent Fourman families shows that many of them have roots in Pennsylvania in the United States, where they were among the earliest German settlers. Since then, Fourmans have spread across the country, and while they remain less common than many other surnames, they can still be found in many states today.
Variations of the surname Fourman
The surname Fourman is a patronymic name derived from the early German or Dutch word “furman”, meaning "peasant farmer". The variants of Fourman may include Forman, Furman, Firman, Fremont and Fremon. In some cases, the spelling might also differ, for example, Fuhrman and Furhman.
The surname Fourman is an occupational surname found throughout Europe and is one of the most common surnames in the United States. It is currently more prevalent in Eastern Europe, mainly in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
Forman is an anglicized spelling of the name Fourman, and is also the most common spelling. This spelling is most prevalent in Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.
Furman is a Dutch/German spelling which is also found in the United States. This variant of the name is more common in the southern United States.
Firman is another variant of Fourman. This spelling is most prominently found in Central and Eastern Europe, especially in Poland.
Fremont is a French variant of the name Fourman. This spelling is more common in France, but is also found in the United States.
Finally, Fremon is another variant of the surname Fourman. This spelling is found mainly in the United States, and is an uncommon variant of the name.
Famous people with the name Fourman
- Lanny Fourman, former professional baseball player
- Kimberly Fourman, one of the 1st female combat pilots
- Stan Fourman, award-winning American singer-songwriter
- Richard Fourman, award-winning American film producer
- Barbara Fourman, tennis player who won numerous awards during her career
- Elizabeth Fourman, American artist and sculptor
- Eric Fourman, former all-star basketball player
- David Fourman, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan
- David Fourman, former NFL offensive lineman
- Angela Fourman, contemporary poet and author