Sherman
Derived from a place name meaning "bright stream" or an occupational name for a shearer of woolen garments.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 81,918 Americans carry the last name Sherman. That puts it at #469 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 23.90 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 4,184 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sherman surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
82K
1 in 4,184
Census rank
#469
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
23.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
71K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 70,502 bearers of the surname Sherman in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 23.90 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 469th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sherman, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.7%. The next largest groups are Black (11.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sherman
The surname Sherman has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 11th century as an occupational name for a shearer of woollen cloth. It is derived from the Old English word "schere", meaning to cut or shear, combined with the agent suffix "mann", which denoted a person who did that occupation.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name is believed to be Sceremongere, found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. This entry is thought to refer to a person who dealt in sheared wool or cloth.
In the 12th century, the name took on various spellings such as Scherman, Shyreman, and Shurman, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. By the 13th century, the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form, with records showing instances of Sherman and Shearman.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Shyreman, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202. Another early reference is to a William Shermanne, mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire in 1293.
The Sherman name has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. These include:
1. Roger Sherman (1721-1793), an American statesman and one of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
2. William Tecumseh Sherman (1820-1891), an American soldier who played a crucial role in the Union's victory in the American Civil War and is known for his "March to the Sea" campaign.
3. James Schoolcraft Sherman (1855-1924), an American lawyer and politician who served as the 27th Vice President of the United States under President William Howard Taft.
4. Stuart Sherman (1881-1926), an American literary critic and professor at the University of Illinois, known for his work on the study of American literature.
5. Lowell Sherman (1888-1934), an American actor, director, and playwright who appeared in numerous Broadway productions and early Hollywood films.
The name has also been associated with various place names, such as Sherman, Connecticut, and Sherman County in several U.S. states, which were likely named after prominent individuals bearing the surname.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sherman
Among Census respondents with the surname Sherman, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.7%. The next largest groups are Black (11.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Sherman bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sherman surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.7%
- Black or African American11.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
- Two or more races1.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sherman surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #422 | #469 | -11.1% |
| Count | 69,840 | 70,502 | 0.9% |
| Per 100K | 25.89 | 23.90 | -7.7% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Sherman bearers went from 69,840 to 70,502 (+0.9% change). The surname moved down 47 positions in the national ranking, going from #422 to #469.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sherman
FAQ
Sherman surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sherman?
The surname Sherman holds position #469 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 81,918 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 23.90 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sherman surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sherman, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.7%. The next largest groups are Black (11.6%) and Hispanic (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.