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

Sherman, 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 Sherman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sherman in America

Sherman is the 469th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sherman surname appeared 70,502 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 24 people would have the surname Sherman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sherman 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sherman

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

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 Sherman 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 Sherman 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 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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