Surname Putman - Meaning and Origin
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Discovering the Unexpected - Tracing the Vibrant Roots of the Putman Heritage Through iGENEA DNA Test
When I embarked on the journey of exploring my ancestry with iGENEA, I expected a straight path tracing back to England considering my Anglo-Saxon-sounding surname, Putman. I was in for startling revelations and surprising turns. From Dutch origins to Jewish ties, Celtic roots to Scandinavian connections, the discovery shed a vibrant light on my heritage.
I. Putman
read morePutman: What does the surname Putman mean?
The last name Putman is of English origin and derives from the Old English term "Putta" combined with "mann". "Putta" is a nickname meaning 'hawk', while "mann" stands for 'man'. Therefore, it can be interpreted as "Hawk Man". However, there's another interpretation that suggests it may be an occupational surname for someone who kept or bred hawks, which were often used in medieval times for hunting. Hawks were regarded as a symbol of nobility and were owned mostly by people of rank. Therefore, the Putman surname could pertain to people who were in the service of nobles or royalty, caring for these prized hunting birds. Like many surnames, it may have described a person, their occupation, or their place of residence. The Putman surname mainly spread in the regions of Norfolk, Cambridge, and Devon in England. Also, it's worth mentioning that surname spellings could vary over time and include variations such as Puttman or Putnam. This surname was brought to North America by early settlers and grew in popularity over the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisPutman: Where does the name Putman come from?
The last name Putman is relatively uncommon today, but it can still be found around the world. Originally from Normandy, France, the name is especially prevalent in English-speaking countries, such as the United States, England, Canada, and Australia.
Putman is usually found in or near the original settlement points of early immigrants from Normandy. As a result, many ancestral Putman families can be found in larger metropolitan areas, such as New York City and London. In addition, small pockets of the surname can be found scattered throughout country and rural areas in all these countries.
In the United States, Putmans are scattered throughout the country but with no single epicenter. The SSDI lists residents of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Oregon as having Putman as their last name.
In addition, states of Australia such as New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria all have residents with the Putman name. Canada is also home to some Putmans, as well as large rural areas such as Montana and Idaho in the United States.
The Putman name may not be the most prevalent in some countries, but it still has a presence around the world. Tracing the name can be interesting and rewarding for family historians, and many places are associated with the Putman name.
Variations of the surname Putman
The Putman surname is derived from the Anglo-Norman Puttman. Other variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin include Putmane, Putmann, Puttenham, and Putnam.
Putmane is the Middle English spelling of the surname. This spelling was used primarily during the 13th and 14th centuries. In some instances, records from this time period document the surname as Puitman or Putman, which later became the more modern variant Putman.
Putmann is the German version of the surname. Putmann descended from the Old High German word “put” which means “pond” or “pool.” Records of this spelling of the surname date back as far as the 13th century in Bavaria, Germany.
Puttenham is an alternate spelling of Putman that is primarily found in England. This spelling is recorded from the 1500s and is likely derived from the English village of Puttenham located in Surrey. The earliest records of the surname coming from this area date back to the 1500s.
Finally, Putnam is the Americanized version of Putman. Putnam is the most common spelling of the surname in the United States. This form of the surname is found primarily in the New England region of the US. Records of this spelling date back to the 1600s.
Famous people with the name Putman
- Bill Putman: a singer/songwriter and producer based in Nashville, TN
- Ed Putman: an English convicted murderer who was found to have killed his partner
- Geoff Putman: an American investment banker
- Claude Putman Jr.: an American country music songwriter
- Caroll Putman: a country singer and songwriter
- Moochie Putman: an American obscure soul singer
- Christian Putman: a French jazz drummer
- Jonathan Putman: an American actor and filmmaker
- Chris Putman: a former professional ice hockey player
- Priscilla Putman: an English actress