Moorman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Moorman family

The surname Moorman was first found in Suffolk where Ralph le Morman was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1287. Later, William le Moreman was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. 1

“This surname is derived from a geographical locality, ‘the moorman,’ one who dwelt on the moor.” 2 Johannes Morman was found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379.

To the far south of England in Devon, Hartland was home to some of the family: “There are stated to have been anciently eleven chapels in this extensive parish. The parish documents are unusually numerous and interesting, and have been reported on by the Historical Manuscripts Commission. Dr. Moreman, born at Hartland in 1529, vicar of Menheniot, is reputed to have been the first who used the English language in public worship in Cornwall teaching his parishioners the Creed, Commandments, and Lord’s Prayer in that tongue. ” 3

Some of the family can even be found in Scotland. And there, the name is also derived “from the occupation, an officer in charge of a moor. Thomas Mureman, younger in Kirkbryderig, ‘dilatit of the schutting and slauchter of deir,’ 1570 (Trials, I, p. 48). 1687: ‘Every man that keeps cattle upon the More, shall bring his cattle to the Moor-man to be branded'” 4