Find out how popular the first name Sherman has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Sherman by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Sherman is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Sherman being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 19 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Sherman.

The history of the first name Sherman

The name Sherman has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the words "schear" and "mann," which together mean "shear man" or "shearer of cloth." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked with shearing or cutting fabric.

During the Middle Ages, the name Sherman was prevalent in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. It was a common surname among tradesmen and artisans involved in the textile industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sherman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a historical record compiled by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Serman" and "Screman," which were likely variations of the spelling at the time.

In the 13th century, the name Sherman appeared in the Hundred Rolls of England, a census-like record of landowners and tenants. This indicates that the name had become well-established among the English populace by that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the first name Sherman. One of the earliest was Sherman Coolidge (1783-1845), an American politician who served as a United States Representative from Massachusetts.

Another prominent figure was Sherman Minton (1890-1965), an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Indiana and later as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

In the realm of literature, Sherman Alexie (born 1966) is a renowned Native American novelist, poet, and filmmaker known for works such as "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" and "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian."

In the world of sports, Sherman Douglas (born 1966) was a professional basketball player who played in the NBA for several teams, including the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics.

Another notable figure is Sherman Hemsley (1938-2012), an American actor and comedian best known for his role as George Jefferson on the popular television sitcoms "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons."

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 Sherman was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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