Norman (name)

Surname

There are several different origins of the surname Norman.

1. As a surname of English, Irish (in Ulster), Scottish and Dutch origin the name was used to denote someone of Scandinavian ancestry or someone from Normandy (northern France). During the Dark Ages Scandinavian Vikings called themselves norðmenn ("men from the North"). By 1066 Scandinavian settlers in England had been absorbed and Northman and Norman were used as bynames and later as personal names by both English and English of Scandinavian descent. After the Norman Invasion of England in 1066, the name Norman took on a new meaning as England was invaded by Normans from Normandy (in northern France).
2. As a surname of French origin the name is a regional name denoting someone from Normandy.
3. As a surname of Dutch origin the surname is an ethnic name for someone of Norwegian descent.
4. As a surname of Jewish (Ashkenazic) origin the surname is a variant of Nordman.
5. As a surname of Jewish (American) origin the surname is an Americanization of a similar-sounding Ashkenazic name. In at least one case Norman is used as an Americanization of Novominsky, which is a name of a family originating in Uman, Ukraine. This family on coming to the United States of America changed their name to Norman, and relatives in Russia likewise changed their names from Novominsky to Norman.
6. As a surname of Swedish origin the name is derived the two elements: norr (north) + man ("man").

Given name

Norman as a given name is of mostly English origin. It is a Germanic name and is composed of the elements nord ("north") + man ("man"). The name can be found in England before the Norman Invasion of 1066, but gained popularity by its use by Norman settlers in England after the invasion. In Norway the demonym of its people in Norwegian are Nordmann (pronounce Normann), and has the exactly same meaning as the name origin of the Normans. In the Scottish Highlands, Norman is sometimes used as an Anglicised form of the Norwegian and Scottish Gaelic Tormod (derived from the Norse Þórmóðr). A pet form of the Scottish given name is Norrie. There are several Scottish feminine forms of the given name Norman. These include: Normanna, Normina, Norma, Nora, and Mona.

In England and Wales, the use of Norman as a given name is "dying out". For example, in 2005 only two newborn boys were so-named: one in Shropshire and another in Tyne and Wear.

England, Wales and the Isle of Man

Norman is ranked as the 273rd most common surname in the 1999–2001 National Health Service Central Register of England, Wales and the Isle of Man (the register utilises birth and death registers from 1999 to 2001).

Ireland

The surname Norman is of English origin, having arrived in Ulster in the 17th century during the plantation era (See Plantation of Ulster and Plantations of Ireland). The surname is most common in Dublin, Belfast and Cork. Below is a table of Norman households recorded in the Primary Valuation (Griffith's valuation) property survey of 1848–64.

United States of America

Surname: In the 1990 Census Norman is ranked as the 396th most frequent surname. By the 2000 Census the surname was ranked at 461st most frequent surname. The table below shows the statistics for the surname Norman in the 2000 Census See footnote for description of the header.

Given name: Norman is ranked as the 113th most frequent male given name in the 1990 Census.

Surname

Abby Norman (born 1984), pageant titleholder from Rock Springs, Wyoming, competed in the Miss USA 2005 pageant

Al Norman, the founder of Sprawl-Busters, a noted anti-sprawl activism organization

Albert Norman MBE (1882–1964), one of the founders of the Institute of Biomedical Science

Alexandra Norman, (born 1983), professional squash player who represents Canada

Alfred Merle Norman (1831–1918), British clergyman, naturalist and marine zoologist

Andrew Norman (born 1980), English professional snooker player

Andrew Norman (rugby league), Papua New Guinean rugby league player

Aneurin Norman (born 1991), Welsh cricketer

Anna-Kajsa Norman (1820–1903), known as Spel-Stina, Swedish folk musician, spelman and a composer

Anthony W. Norman, professor emeritus of biochemistry and biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside

Archie Norman (born 1954), British businessman and politician

Arthur Norman CBE DFC (1917–2011), British industrialist, President of the CBI

Arthur St. Norman (1878–1956), South African long-distance runner

Barak Norman (c. 1670–c. 1740), English string instrument maker

Barry Norman (born 1933), British film critic

Bebo Norman (born 1973), contemporary Christian musician

Birger Norman (1914–1995), Swedish journalist, poet, novelist, playwright and non-fiction writer

Bob Norman (born 1969), South Florida journalist

Charles Norman CBE (1891–1974), General Officer Commanding Aldershot District

Charles Norman (cricketer) (1833–1889), English banker and cricketer

Charlie Norman (1920–2005), Swedish musician and entertainer

Chris Norman (born 1950), British musician

Chris Norman (American football) (born 1962), former punter in National Football League

Chris Norman (flautist) (born in Halifax, Nova Scotia) is a flautist

Conolly Norman (1853–1908), Irish alienist or psychiatrist

Corey Norman (born 1991), Australian aboriginal rugby league player

Craig Norman, native of Greenfield Park, Quebec

Dan Norman (born 1952), former right fielder in Major League Baseball

Daniel Norman (born 1964), Canadian slalom canoer

David Norman (disambiguation)

Dax Norman (born 1980), contemporary artist in painting and animation

Decima Norman, MBE (1909–1983), Australian athlete

Denis Norman, English-born Zimbabwean former politician

Dennis Norman (born 1980), American football guard

Desmond Norman (1929–2002), British aircraft designer

Diana Norman (1933–2011), British author and journalist

Dianne Norman (born 1971), Canadian former basketball player

Dick Norman, Belgian tennis player

Dick Norman (American football) (born 1938), former American football quarterback

Donald Norman, professor and usability consultant

Dorothy Norman (1905–1997), female American photographer, writer, editor, arts patron, advocate for social change

E. Herbert Norman (1909–1957), Canadian diplomat and historian

Edward Norman (born 1938), Canon Chancellor of York Minster, ecclesiastical historian

Edward Norman (bishop), KBE, DSO, MC (1916–1987), New Zealand Anglican bishop

Eldred Norman (1914–1971), Australian inventor and racing-car driver

Emile Norman (1918–2009), iconoclastic California artist

Ernest Norman (1904–1971), American electrical engineer, co-founder of the Unarius Academy of Science

Ernie Norman (1913–1993), Australian rugby league player

Florence Norman, CBE (1881–1964), English socialite and activist

Floyd Norman (born 1935), American animator on Walt Disney films in the late '50s and early '60s

Frank Norman (1930–1980), British novelist and playwright

Frank T. Norman (1914–1994), Louisiana mayor

Fred Norman (born 1942), American baseball player

Fred B. Norman (1882–1947), U.S. Representative from Washington

Frederick Norman (1839–1916), English merchant banker, director of merchant bank Brown, Shipley & Co

Georg Norman (died 1552 or 1553), civil servant of German origin, in Swedish service from 1539

George Norman (disambiguation)

Gilbert Norman (born 1914) in Saint-Cloud, Hauts-de-Seine

Greg Norman (born 1955), Australian professional golfer

Greg Norman (born 1981), South African User Experience Designer

Gurney Norman, American writer, documentarian, and professor

Hayley Marie Norman (born 1989), American actress and model

Henry Wylie Norman GCB, GCMG, CIE (1826–1904), Field Marshal, colonial Governor of Jamaica and Queensland

Howard Norman (born 1949), American writer

Ian Norman, Professor of Nursing and Inter-Disciplinary Care at King’s College London

James Norman (disambiguation)

Jane Norman, United Kingdom-based women's clothing retailer

Jared Norman (born 1974), former English cricketer

Jennie Van Norman (1870–1946), birth name of stage actress Jane Peyton

Jerry Norman (sinologist) (1936–2012), American sinologist and linguist

Jerry Norman (basketball) (born 1929/1930), American basketball coach

Jesse Norman (born 1962), British Conservative politician

Jessye Norman (born 1945), American opera singer and recitalist

Jim Norman (disambiguation)

Jimmy Norman (1937–2011), American rhythm and blues and jazz musician and a songwriter

Joe Norman (born 1956), former professional American football linebacker

John Norman (disambiguation)

Josh Norman (cornerback) (born 1987), American football cornerback

Josh Norman (tight end) (born 1980), former American football tight end

K. R. Norman (born 1925), leading scholar of Middle Indo-Aryan or Prakrit, particularly of Pali

Karl Norman (born 1983), Australian rules football player

Keith Norman, general secretary of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF)

Kelvin Norman, deceased American soccer defender

Ken Norman (born 1964), American former professional basketball player

Kent Norman, American cognitive psychologist, expert on Computer Rage

Larry Norman, Christian rock music pioneer

Larry Norman (canoer), canoer

Lavinia Norman (1882–1983), one of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated

Leonard Norman, Jersey politician and Connétable of Saint Clement

Leslie Norman (disambiguation)

Lisa Norman (born 1979), shinty player and manager from Kincardine, Fife, Scotland

Lisanne Norman, Scottish science fiction author

Loulie Jean Norman (born 1913), coloratura soprano

Lucille Norman (1921–1998), American singer and film actress

Ludvig Norman (1831–1885), Swedish composer, conductor, pianist, and music teacher

Magnus Norman (born 1976), Swedish professional tennis player

Maidie Norman (1912–1998), American stage, film and television actress

Marc Norman (born 1941), American screenwriter

Marciano Norman (born 1954), head of the Indonesian State Intelligence Agency

Marrio Norman (born 1986), American football player

Mark Norman (disambiguation)

Marsha Norman (born 1947), American playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner

Matt Norman (Canadian football) (born 1988), Canadian football offensive lineman

Matthew Norman (born 1986), Australian drug trafficker, member of the Bali Nine

Maurice Norman (born 1934), English former footballer

Max Magnus Norman (born 1973), Swedish contemporary artist

Max Norman, record producer and recording engineer

Michael Norman (disambiguation)

Moe Norman (1929–2004), Canadian professional golfer

Montagu Norman, 1st Baron Norman DSO PC (1871–1950), English banker

Monty Norman (born 1928), British singer and film composer

Moriah van Norman (born 1984), American water polo player

Nancy Norman (born 1925), American vocalist

Nathan Norman (sealing captain) (1809–1883), sealing captain, political figure in Newfoundland

Neil Norman, British playwright and critic

Nelson Norman (born 1958), former Major League Baseball shortstop

Nigel Norman (1897–1943), Baronet, RAF officer and businessman

Nils Norman (born 1966), artist living in London

Oliver Norman (1911–1983), English cricketer

Patrick Norman (singer) (born 1946), Canadian country singer from Quebec

Patrick Norman (musician), American guitarist for Rusted Root

Paul Norman (1951–2004), Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Defence’s laboratory at Porton Down, Wiltshire

Paul Norman (game designer) (born 1951), professional musician and composer

Peg Norman (born 1964), Canadian documentary filmmaker

Peter Norman (1942–2006), Australian track athlete and Olympic medallist

Peter Norman (politician) (born 1958), Swedish economist and politician

Pettis Norman (born 1939), former professional American football tight end

Philip Norman (artist) FSA (1842–1931), British artist, author and antiquary

Philip Norman (author) (born 1943), English novelist, biographer, journalist and playwright

Rae Norman (born 1958), American actress

Ralph Norman (born 1953), American real estate developer

Ray Norman (1889–1971), Australian rugby league footballer and coach

Remington Norman (born 1944), wine expert and author

Rex Norman (1891–1961), Australian rugby league footballer

Richard Norman, British philosopher

Richard Norman (chemist) (1932–1993), British chemist

Richie Norman (born 1935), former English footballer

Rick Norman (born 1963), former Australian rules footballer

Robert Norman, 16th-century British mariner, compass builder, and hydrographer

Roger Norman (disambiguation)

Roger the Norman or Roger II of Sicily (1095–1154), King of Sicily

Rolla Norman (1889–1971), French actor

Ronald Collet Norman JP (1873–1963), banker, administrator and politician

Ross Norman (born 1959), former professional squash player from New Zealand

Russel Norman (born 1967), New Zealand politician and environmentalist

Ruth Norman (1900–1993), also known as Uriel, American religious leader

Samuel Hinga Norman (1940–2007), Sierra Leonean politician from the Mende tribe

Seth Walker Norman (born 1934), US judge, former Democrat regional politician, former airman

Stephen Norman (1918–1946), the grandson of the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl

Steve Norman (born 1960), English musician who plays saxophone, guitar, percussion for Spandau Ballet

Terry Norman (born 1949), Kent State University student allegedly involved in the Kent State shootings

Tom Norman (1860–1930), English businessman and showman

Tom Van Norman, Democratic member of the South Dakota House of Representatives

Tony Norman (born 1958), former professional footballer

Torquil Norman CBE (born 1933), British businessman, aircraft enthusiast, and arts philanthropist

Valerie Norman, British script supervisor and director

Van Norman, American manufacturer of milling machines and other machine tools

Victor D. Norman (born 1946), Norwegian economist, politician and newspaper columnist

Warren Norman (born 1990), American football player

Will Norman (1903–1964), professional football player

William Norman VC (1832–1896), English recipient of the Victoria Cross

William the Norman (died 1075), medieval Bishop of London

Given name

Norm Abram, American carpenter, cabinet maker and television personality

Norman Armitage (Norman Cohn; 1907–72), American Olympic bronze medal winning saber fencer

Norman Baker (born 1957), British Liberal Democrat politician and former Home Office minister

Norman Banks (broadcaster) (c. 1906 – 1985), Australian radio broadcaster

Norman Barrett (1903–1979), Australian-born British thoracic surgeon

Norman Bates (born 1927), American jazz double-bass player

Norman Bethune (1890–1939), Canadian physician and medical innovator

Norman Borlaug (1914–2009), American agricultural scientist, humanitarian and Nobel Laureate

Norman L. Bowen (1887–1956), Canadian geologist

Norman Carlberg (born 1928), American sculptor

Norman Keith "Sailor Jerry" Collins (1911–1973), American tattoo artist

Norman Cook (born 1963), British DJ and electronic dance music musician

Norman Davies (born 1939), leading English historian

Norman Fell (born 1924), American actor of film and television

Norman Finkelstein (born 1953), American political scientist and author

Norman Gibbs (Canadian football) (born 1960), American football player

Normie Glick (1927-1989), basketball player

Norman Gordon (born 1911), South African cricketer

Norman J. Grossfeld (born 1963), American television producer and writer

Norman Hetherington, (1921–2010), Australian cartoonist and puppeteer

Norman Himes (1900-1958), Canadian National Hockey League player

Norman Jewison (born 1926), Canadian filmmaker

Norman Jones (disambiguation), several persons

Norman Kwong (1929-2016), Canadian Football League player, businessman and politician

Norman Lear (born 1922), American television producer

Norman Lamont (born 1942), British Conservative politician and former Chancellor of the Exchequer

Norman Lloyd (actor) (born 1914), American actor

Norman Lindsay (born 1879), Australian artist, sculptor, writer, editorial cartoonist, scale modeler, and an accomplished amateur boxer

Norm Macdonald (born 1963), Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, producer and actor

Norman Mailer (1923–2007), American writer

Norman Müller (born 1985), German decathlete

Norman Painting (1924–2009), British radio actor

Norman Powell (born 1993), American basketball player

Norman Reedus (born 1969), actor and former model

Norman Rockwell (1894–1978), American painter

Normie Rowe (born 1947), Australian pop singer

Normie Roy (1928-2011), American Major League Baseball pitcher

Norman Sartorius (born 1935), Croatian psychiatrist

Norman Schuster (born 1979), German boxer

Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. (1934–2012), United States Army general, leader of coalition forces in 1991 Gulf War

Normie Smith (1908-1988), Canadian National Hockey League goaltender

Norman Smith (record producer) (1923–2008), British pop musician, recording engineer and producer

Norman Tate (born 1942), American long and triple jumper

Norman Taylor (born 1986), Australian IT legend, internationally renowned Australian fire-fighting volunteer

Norman Tebbit (born 1931), British Conservative politician who served under, was a key adviser to and supporter of, Margaret Thatcher

Norman D. Vaughan, (1905–2005), American dogsled driver and explorer whose first claim to fame was participating in Admiral Byrd's first expedition to the South Pole

Norman Vaughan (comedian), English comedian

Norman Wielsch, police commander

Norman Wisdom (1915–2010), English comedian, singer and actor

Norman Yokely (1906–1975), American baseball player

Fictional people with the name Norman

Norman Babcock, protagonist of the movie ParaNorman

Norman Bates, fictional character created by writer Robert Bloch and portrayed by Anthony Perkins

Norman, character in the Pokémon universe

Norman Osborn, the arch-enemy of Spider-Man

Norm Peterson, regular character on the television show Cheers and guest character on several others, portrayed by actor George Wendt

Norman Stanley Fletcher, protagonist of the British TV prison comedy Porridge, portrayed by Ronnie Barker

Norman Stansfield, the main antagonist in the movie Léon: The Professional

Commander Norman, fictional character in the television series Thunderbirds'

Rod Norman, fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Norman, The Guardian of Mighty Max

Norman Jayden, one of the playable characters in the game Heavy Rain

Norman Johnson, protagonist of the Michael Crichton novel Sphere and subsequent film adaptation

Norman Price, character from Fireman Sam

Norman Clegg, character from Last of the Summer Wine