Surname Houseman - Meaning and Origin
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Houseman: What does the surname Houseman mean?
The last name Houseman is of English origin. It may be a combination of two Anglo-Saxon words – hoh (hill, or high place) and man (manor or lord). Houseman could derive from a place name, associated with an individual's former residence or ancestral home.
Houseman is an occupational surname that originated from the feudal lords of medieval England. It would have been used to refer to a lord’s servants, who were normally responsible for managing the estate and its tenants. As a result, it could be a hint at someone's strong sense of duty and loyalty, as these were qualities that would have been very much valued in a Houseman.
Today, the Houseman surname is often associated with being hard working and responsible, qualities that many people still strive for in their own lives. Throughout history, the surname has been used to refer to people in many different roles, including people who maintained and lived on the estate of a noble family.
The Houseman surname is quite rare in modern times, though there are still some places in the world that have a high concentration of Houseman families. This could be a clue to the fact that these families have maintained their connection to their past roots and have kept their commitment to hard work and loyalty alive.
Order DNA origin analysisHouseman: Where does the name Houseman come from?
The surname Houseman is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, with the highest concentrations located in northern England and south-west Scotland. According to the 2011 census in the UK, there were over 1,000 people with the surname, spread across England, Scotland, and Wales. In England, the majority of Housemans were located in the county of Yorkshire and the adjacent areas of Derbyshire, Lancashire, and Nottinghamshire.
The surname is also found in small numbers throughout other parts of Europe, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. According to Ancestry.com's 2018 European surname study, Houseman was ranked in the ‘top 1000’ most common surnames in Germany at the time.
Houseman is also present in the United States, albeit in much smaller numbers than the United Kingdom. In the US, the majority of Housemans are concentrated in Texas, with a large presence in the surrounding states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
The surname Houseman is likely derived from the Old English word 'husman' which means a household or farm servant. Its original use is thought to date back to the 11th and 12th centuries when there was a need for a greater number of servants due to the increasing population in England.
Variations of the surname Houseman
Houseman is a patronymic surname, derived from the Middle English huse, meaning "house". It came into use in the 13th century and has endured as a popular surname in many parts of the world.
Variants of Houseman include Housemann, Hausman, Howseman and Howsman.
Alternate spellings include Hausman, Housman, Husman, Husmann, Housmane, Howseman, Howesman, and Housman.
Other surnames of similar origin include Husen, Husemann, Hauserman, and Howesmon.
Houseman may also be an Anglicized version of the Jewish surname Husmann/Hussman, which is derived from the German words huf, or hoof, and mann, meaning man. It is found mainly in Germany and the United States, often as an adopted name by Jewish immigrants.
The Irish surname Houseman is derived from the Gaelic personal name Ó hÚsín, which is found in places such as County Donegal. It is also found as a surname in other parts of the world, such as the Netherlands, through immigration.
Spelling variations of Houseman include Husmann, Husman, Hussman, and Houseman.
Houseman is a popular surname. It is estimated that over 95,000 people in the world bear the Houseman surname, with the largest concentrations being found in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia.
Famous people with the name Houseman
- Jennifer Grey: Academy Award-nominated actress best known for her role as Frances 'Baby' Houseman in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.
- Ross Houseman: English actor best known for his roles in Waterloo Road, The Royal Today, and So Awkward.
- Julian Houseman: the current Lord Mayor of Leicester.
- Doc Houseman: American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient.
- Hollis Houseman: Irish rugby union footballer.
- Tom Houseman: British hurdler who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
- Paul Houseman: British long-distance runner who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.
- John Houseman: British-born American actor, director and producer remembered for his role as Professor Kingsfield in The Paper Chase.
- Bill Houseman: Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League.
- Dr. Tom Houseman: Chairman of the Central Hockey League.
- John Houseman Smith: British actor, voice actor, and director, who is best remembered for his performances in The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day, and Skyfall.
- Grant Houseman: Canadian professional lacrosse player who won a National Lacrosse League Most Valuable Player Award.
- Carmen Houseman: pro-skater who appeared in video games such as Aggressive Inline and Tony Hawk's Underground 2.