Verman

This unusual name is of medieval Dutch origin, and has two possible interpretations. Firstly, it may be an occupational surname for a trader in feathers, derived from the Middle Dutch "veder(e)", feather, with "man", man. The omission of the "d" between vowels was a common development in Low German and Dutch names, giving such forms as Veerman and Verman. Secondly, Ve(e)rman may be an occupational name for a ferryman, from the Middle Dutch "vere", ferry, with "man", as before. The surname from these sources is found widespread in Europe: the marriage of Joanna Vermans and Laurens Diericx was recorded at Destelbergen, Oost Vlaanderen, Belgium, on September 27th 1629, and Cornelius de Veerman was christened at Ouddorp in South Holland on October 9th 1639. Interestingly, Verman is also found in some numbers in Cornwall, England, where it may be derived from a nickname for a small man, from the Cornish "ver", small. The marriage of George Verman and Eden Dennis was recorded at Lamorran in Cornwall, on February 5th 1575. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Simon Verman, which was dated April 4th 1563, a christening witness at Attenburg, Saxony, during the reign of Ferdinand 1, "Holy Roman Emperor", 1558 - 1564. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.