Coleman / Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Coleman / Family History

Coleman / Family History

The ancient origin of the name Coleman was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Coleman is a baptismal name meaning 'Adherent of Nicholas', a name of great antiquity. This name is of Anglo-Saxon descent spreading to the Celtic countries of Ireland, Scotland and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout the above islands. Examples of such are a Robert Coleman who was recorded in the 'Pipe Rolls' in Cumberland and Westmoreland, England, in 1176 and a William Colman who was declared innocent of being part of the detention of King James III in Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, in 1482. A Matilda Colman was recorded in the 'Poll Tax', of the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1379. In Ireland the Colemans were a Sept of the Ui Fiachrach. The O'Colmain Sept took their name from a Gaelic word meaning 'dove' and were located in County Sligo. Coleman is also taken for the Gaelic O'Clumhain Sept of County Cork which is also anglicized as Clifford.The Coleman family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Coleman descendants.