Find out how popular the last name Firman is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Firman.

Firman, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Firman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Firman in America

Firman is the 20192nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Firman surname appeared 1,320 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Firman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Firman to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Firman

The surname Firman is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "fyrman," meaning "foremost man" or "principal man." It is believed to have originated as an occupational name for a nobleman, landlord, or chief tenant of a village or manor.

The earliest recorded instances of the Firman surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Firman, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1275.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Forman, Formane, and Fermane, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time. The name was also associated with certain place names, such as Firman Hill in Derbyshire and Firman Field in Nottinghamshire.

The Firman surname gained prominence during the Tudor and Stuart periods, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Thomas Firman (c. 1570-1636), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Guildford in 1625.

Another notable figure was William Firman (1611-1679), an English Puritan minister who served as the rector of Redgrave in Suffolk. He was known for his religious writings and sermons, which were published after his death.

During the 18th century, the Firman surname was associated with the landed gentry and aristocracy. Edward Firman (1722-1782) was a British baronet and landowner who inherited the Firman family estate in Oxfordshire.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like John Firman (1806-1878), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Other notable bearers of the Firman surname include William Firman (1747-1823), an English clergyman and author, and Thomas Firman (1770-1855), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars.

Throughout its history, the Firman surname has been associated with various professions and social classes, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its bearers. It remains a distinctive and recognizable surname, carrying with it a rich heritage and legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Firman

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Firman.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Firman was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Firman has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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