Find out how popular the first name Furman has been for the last 26 years (from 1974 to 1999) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Furman by gender

Based on the last 26 years of data, Furman is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 1999, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Furman.

The history of the first name Furman

The name Furman is an English surname that has been used as a given name. It originated as an occupational surname, derived from the Old English word "furmere," which means "the first or chief miller." The word "furmere" itself is a combination of two words: "furm" or "form," meaning "first," and "mere," meaning "mill."

In Medieval England, millers were responsible for operating mills that ground grain into flour. The "furmere" was the head miller or the one in charge of overseeing the mill's operations. As surnames became more common in the 12th and 13th centuries, those who held this occupation adopted the surname "Furman" or variations like "Furmer" or "Furmore."

The earliest recorded use of Furman as a surname dates back to the 13th century in England. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was John Furman, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296.

While the name Furman originated as a surname, it has been used as a given name, particularly in the United States. One notable historical figure with the first name Furman was Furman University's namesake, Richard Furman (1755-1825), a Baptist minister and educator from South Carolina, who was instrumental in the establishment of the university in 1826.

Another famous Furman was Furman Sheppard (1875-1957), an American businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Philadelphia from 1928 to 1936.

In the field of sports, Furman Bisher (1918-2012) was a renowned American sportswriter and author, best known for his coverage of golf and other sports for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Furman Marshall Tanner (1932-2008) was an American politician who served as the 39th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois from 1983 to 1989.

Furman Loomis Templeton (1871-1953) was an American educator and college administrator who served as the president of Greenville University (now Greenville College) in Illinois from 1910 to 1937.

While the name Furman has its roots in an occupational surname from Medieval England, it has been adopted as a given name, particularly in the United States, with several notable individuals bearing this name throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Furman was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Furman, please contact us.

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