Sherman first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Sherman has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Sherman

An English masculine name derived from the Old English words "sceran" meaning "to cut, shear" and "mann" meaning "man".

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 2024, there were 21 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Sherman.

YearMale CountFemale Count
2024210
2023190
2022310
2021330
2020340
2019360
2018360
2017470
2016470
2015420
2014390
2013400
2012460
2011400
2010430
2009500
2008600
2007550
2006720
2005700
2004660
2003750
2002700
2001890
20001080
1999800
19981030
19971240
19961160
19951140
19941480
19931440
19921750
19911830
19901640
19891950
19881700
19871725
19861897
19851967
19842160
19832510
19822717
19812850
19803040
19792860
19783120
19773020
19762910
19753340

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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