Skip to content
  • Start free trial

Origins of the Freeman surname

A collage of historical images including two family portraits and a postcard of people boarding a ship

What does the name Freeman mean?

The origin of the surname Freeman is English, believed to have Old English roots. It derives from the Old English word 'freomund' (free man), which would describe someone who had status above a serf, owning land, but with no nobility. The name has been found in records as early as the 1200s, and can be seen in documents dating from this period onwards.

Alternative variations of the name Freeman

Freeman, Freman, Freemans, Freiman, Friman

“

I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
TrustPilot review
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Freemans.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Freeman family's history

Where do most Freemans live?

In 1921, most Freemans lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Freemans

How common is your surname?

181st most common surname in the UK

We have 202,000 records for the Freeman surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Freemans most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Joneses

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Freemans.

What are the most common Freeman first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Freeman family members

Common jobs for Freemans

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Freemans in 1921
Dressmaker

778

Laundress

650

Domestic Servant

501

General Servant Domestic

483

Living On Own Means

410

Common Male occupations for Freemans in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

1,178

General Labourer

685

Carpenter

643

Farm Labourer

604

Farmer

494

An image of a census transcript and a picture of a dairy farmer holding two milk jugs

Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 250,000 family trees with the Freeman surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Freemans.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Share your discoveries

Find out more about your family in our records

or try an advanced search

Start your family history journey

Start free trial

Start free trial