This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'the Norman,' i.e. north man. Old French Normand, Dan. Normand. The English surname may imply either a Norman from Normandy or from Norway.

William Northman, Sussex, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert Northman, Oxfordshire. ibid.

Alex, le Normaunt, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Mathew le Norman, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Lucas Normannus, Devon, ibid.

(a) Bapt. 'the son of Norman.' The root is the same. From a national the term became a personal name (compare German). As such it became a component of many local names, such as Normanby, Normanton, Normanvill, Normancote, Normansell, &c, perpetuating the name of the original settler.

Alicia fil. Normanni, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert fil. Normanni, Nottinghamshire, ibid.

Philip Norman, Cambridgeshire, ibid.

Norman de Arcy, Lincolnshire, ibid.

Norman de Redeman, 34 Henry II: Hist West, and Cumb.

Robertus Normand, 21 Richard II: Furness Coucher Book.

1583. Baptised — Geoffraie, s. Anthonie Normand: St. Mary Aldermary (London).

1585. — Anne, d. Anthonie Norman: ibid.

From CE. Norðmann, 'a Northman, Dane.' Normannus, uicecomes, witnessed David's great charter to Holyrood, c. 1128 (LSC., p. 6). Nonnannus, constapularius de Enneroury (Invsrurie), was charter witness, c. 1180 (REA., I, p. 11). William, son of Norman, burgess of Aberdeen, was one of the witnesses to a charter by Fergus, earl of Buchan, c. 1189-99 (RAA., I, p. 57). Norman filius Bertouf oi Bertulfi appears c. 120014, as charter witness (RAA., I, 83, 93; Neubotle, p. 7). John Normand, juror on inquisition in Roxbergh, 1303 (Bain, II, 1435), is probably John Normand, bailie of Berwick, 1324 (Cambus., 39). There was 'trublance' betwixt Robert Normand and another in Dysart, 1600 (Dysart, p. 26). Norman was also a surname in Dumfriesshire in thirteenth centery. It is also used as an Englishing of Tormod, which see.

(Teutonic) Northman [(1) Old French Norman(d, Dano-Norwegian Nordmand, Old Norse Norðmað-r (pl. Norðmenn), Northman; Norwegian (2) Old English Norðmann, Norseman; Dane] In the A.-Saxon Chronicle the term Norðmen(n sometimes embraces the Danes (v.A.D. 787). Elsewhere they are distinguished (v. A.D. 924)—‘. . . ǽgþer ge Englisce, ge Denisce, ge Norðmen, ge obre’ (. . . both English and Danes, and Northmen and others).

Norðman occurs as a pers. name in England in the 10th and 11th centuries.

Normannus (frequent); Norman; Northman.—Domesday Book.

Mathew le Norman.—Hundred Rolls Robert Northman.—do.

Norman de Arcy.—do.

E[t] Peitevin e[t] Bretun et Norman.— La Chanson de Roland, 3961.

(English) Descendant of Norman (the Northman); one who came from Normandy.

Northman or Norman was the generic name of the Norwegians. After the settlement of the Vikingr and their followers in various parts of England, Scotland, Neustria, &c., it was often assumed as a personal name. Many of the tenants in Domesday are called Norman and Normannus. See Normanby.

A native of Normandy, a northman. The inhabitants of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway were anciently so called.

Robert. Ralph, Gillo Normannus, Normandy 1180-95; Osmund, Richard Normandus (Ib.), 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); Geoffry, Henry, &c. Norman, Eng. c. 1272 (Rotuli Hundredorum).

From the Swedish, Nordman; from the German, Nordmann; from the Danish, Norman; from the Dutch, Normant; in the Domesday Book, Norman; a personal name.

Norman: a Northman; but Norris is sometimes la nourrice, the nurse.

Norman. —This name has a disconnected distribution in different parts of England. It has evidently three or four independent homes, the two principal being in Cambridgeshire in the east and in Somerset in the west. It is remarkable that in the 13th. century this surname was very numerous in Cambridgeshire, just as it is now; then, also, it was similarly established in the neighbouring county of Norfolk, and in the not far distant one of Bucks (Hundred Rolls).