Norman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Norman surname is ultimately derived from the Scandinavian word “noromenn,” meaning “men from the north.” It came to Britain with pre-Conquest Scandinavian settlers, and became a personal name among the Saxons. This name also came to Britain following the Norman conquest; in this instance, it was most likely a name for someone from the town of Normanville in the French province of Normandy. 1 2

They claim descent from “a branch of Basset of Normandy, descended from Hugh Fitz Osmond, who held in capite in Hants in 1086. From him came the barons of Normanville, a younger branch of whom held the barony till about 1500.” 3

“Gerold de Nonnanville was a benefactor of Battle Abbey : his grant of ‘Bocestepe ‘ was confirmed by Henry I. ; and in one of the charters of Henry, third Earl of Ewe, he is styled Dapifer mews. Norman de Normanville, according to the Liber Niger, was a Baron of Sussex in 1165. ‘Not long after the Conquest, the Normanvilles held the towns of Empingham and Normanton in the county of Rutland. A Family of eminent note in those days for military affairs ; for I find that about the latter end of King John’s reign Ralf de Nonnanville was sent by the King with forces to the defence of Kenilworth Castle against the rebellious barons ; and paid sixty marks, one Dextrarium (horse for the great saddle) and Palfrey for having the Farm of the Co. and Free Warren at Empingham. In 5 Henry III. the King ordered Henry de Nevill to deliver from Clive Forest six Oaks and six Furchias for the building of a certain Hall by him design’d to be built at Empingham. ” 4

Early Origins of the Norman family

The surname Norman was first found in Suffolk, where a record from the Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, shows a bearer of “Noroman” in 1066-70. The Domesday Book shows several bearers of the name in England in 1086. 5

However, there are several places named Normanby throughout Britain as literally the place name means “farmstead or village of the Northmen or Norwegian Vikings.” 6

The parish of Merton in Surrey has an early record of the family. “In 1115, a convent built of wood, for Canons regular of the order of St. Augustine, was founded here by Gilbert Norman, sheriff of Surrey; and Henry I., in 1121, granted to the community a charter of incorporation and the manor of Merton.” 7

As early as 1234 this surname distinguished themselves and early records show John Norman was Sheriff of the City of London in 1234 and later elected Lord Mayor in 1250. 8