Harman

Harman The surname of HARMAN was a baptismal name 'the son of Herman'. The name was found as early as the Domesday Book of 1086 as Hermannus. It is occasionally a variant of the name Hardiman but in Leinster it is the modern form of an English name derived from the Old German Hereman, a name meaning a warrior. The form Harman is mainly found in Co. Louth. Ireland was one of the earliest countries to evolve a system of hereditary surnames. They came into being fairly generally in the 11th century, and indeed a few were formed before the year 1000. Nicholas Herman was documented in County Sussex in the year of 1273. Thomas Herman of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Harman Clynke, registered at Oxford University in the year of 1549. The name is also spelt as Herman, Hermon and Hermanson. Most of the European surnames in countries such as England, Scotland and France were formed in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The process had started somewhat earlier and had continued in some places into the 19th century, but the norm is that in the tenth and eleventh centuries people did not have surnames, whereas by the fifteenth century most of the population had acquired a second name. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing and draped garment worn over the armour. In many parts of central and western Europe, hereditary surnames began to become fixed at around the 12th century, and have developed and changed slowly over the years. As society became more complex, and such matters as the management of tenure, and in particular the collection of taxes were delegated to special functionaries, it became imperative to distinguish a more complex system of nomenclature to differentiate one individual from another. The associated arms are recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. ARMS - Sable three currycombs argent CREST - An arm erect vested argent cuffed or holding in the hand proper a halbert gold handled gules MOTTO - DIEU DEFEND LE DROIT God defends the right