Surname Plowman - Meaning and Origin
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Plowman: What does the surname Plowman mean?
The surname Plowman is of English origin and derives from the Old English term "plōgere," which translates to "plowman" or "ploughman." It is an occupational surname given to individuals who were plowmen by trade, that is, people who plowed fields for farming. Plowing, in both historical and modern agriculture, is a significant step in crop production as it involves turning and preparing the soil for sowing seeds. As a surname, Plowman indicates a person's association with farming or agriculture, reflecting their family's historical profession or status. Like many occupational surnames, it provides insights into the work or societal role of its original bearer's ancestors. However, it does not necessitate that everyone with the Plowman surname currently or historically engage in this occupation.
Order DNA origin analysisPlowman: Where does the name Plowman come from?
The last name Plowman is common today primarily in Britain and the English-speaking countries. In the UK, the most common concentrations of the name Plowman are in southern England, especially in the West Midlands and Hampshire. Many of these families are descended from a single Plowman ancestor who arrived in the region prior to the 1600s. In the US, the Plowman name is found primarily in the eastern half of the country, most notably in Virginia, Kentucky, Washington, and Oklahoma. In Canada, the Plowman surname is found within British Columbia, Alberta, and Nova Scotia.
In addition to these countries, the Plowman name can be found elsewhere in the English-speaking world. Australians with this surname are a small but visible minority in a number of major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Plowman families in New Zealand are typically concentrated in Wellington and the greater Auckland region. In South Africa, there is a noticeable presence amongst white Afrikaners in the Cape Town region, and in parts of Namibia the Plowman name is quite common.
Beyond the English-speaking world, the name is also associated with certain families in Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. However, these families typically trace their lineage back to British or American Plowmans who moved, or were sent, to Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Variations of the surname Plowman
The surname Plowman is a popular English surname derived from the Middle English ploughman, meaning a “worker of the plough”. It can also be spelt as Plowmann, Ploughman, Plouman, Ploumand, Ploumant, Plugman, Plugmann, Pluggman, Pluggmann, Plumman, Plummann, Plouman, Plowmane, Plume, and Plummer.
The variations of the surname were predominantly found in western England, especially in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. The Plowman family was also one of the oldest Norman families in England and was granted several manors by King William The Conqueror in 1066.
The variations in spelling of the surname Plowman are likely the result of a lack of standardisation of spelling until recent times. Many spellings were most likely phonetically derived and recorded by parish and church officials.
One of the main branches of the Plowman family was recorded in the church registers of St. Mary’s, Eastbourne, England in 1560. The registers record the marriage of Richard Plowman with Susanna Links. The Plumman spelling of the surname is also recorded in the 16th century to a Richard Plumman of the county of Middlesex
Emigration from Britain led to the spread of the Plowman surname to the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Plowman immigrants to the United States were among some of the earliest settlers. Buncombe County, North Carolina, is home to the Plowman family, who settled there in the 18th century. Other members of the Plowman family settled in Jamestown, Virginia in 1618.
In Australia, Plowman immigrants were among the earliest settlers of the country. The Plowman family were recorded as having resided near present-day Melbourne, Victoria, as early as the mid-1800s.
The Plowman surname exists in many variants today, some of which have become synonymous with other variants; Plowman, Ploughman and Plootman being the most common versions.
Famous people with the name Plowman
- S. V. Plowman: an American publisher and author, best known for founding the National Library of Poetry in the 1980s.
- Paul Plowman: a former English professional footballer who played asForward in the Football League for Aston Villa, Hull City and Mansfield Town.
- George Plowman: an English professional footballer who made over 400 appearances for Notts County.
- Kyle Plowman: an American professional basketball player in the NBA G League.
- Stephen Plowman: an Australian composer, pianist, conductor and music educator.
- Dave Plowman: an English rugby league footballer who played for the Warrington Wolves.
- Revd Thomas Plowman: an English clergyman and antiquarian who was once the Vicar of Clifton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.
- Dave Plowman: a British rower who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics
- William Plowman: a couldn't engineer of the British Army and Colonial Secretary of Jamaica in the nineties.
- Charles Plowman: an English portrait painter and designer who was active in Birmingham from 1827 until his death.