Sharman is an English surname, primarily a variant of Sherman 1. The root meaning of Sherman is “shear man,” an occupational name for someone who used shears in their work, such as a sheep-shearer or a cloth shearer who trimmed the nap from finished cloth. As a variant, Sharman shares this etymological core, reflecting the same trade.
Records of the Sharman surname appear in various historical documents, though the particular phonetic transformation from Sherman may involve regional dialects or scribal variations. The spelling “Sharman” aligns with common English practice where the “er” sound shifts to “ar” in some areas (compare “clerk” and “Clark”). It is most frequently found in England, and later in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
Notable bearers of the surname include Helen Sharman (born 1963), the first British astronaut to visit the Mir space station; Bill Sharman (1926–2013), an American professional basketball player and coach; Daniel Sharman (born 1986), a British actor; and Jim Sharman (born 1945), an Australian film and stage director. Others span fields from politics (Dew Sharman) to humanitarian work (Charlotte Sharman) and the clergy (H. B. Sharman).
The surname is mostly found in the United Kingdom, with concentration in counties like Yorkshire and Lancashire, though precise genealogical distribution requires consultation of census data. As a variant of an occupational surname, Sharman fits into the class of European surnames derived from a person’s job, common across many cultures.
Etymology
The name originates from the Anglo-Saxon word scearra “shears, scissors” plus Old English mann “man”. Thus, a “shear man” was a worker whose trade involved a cutting instrument, particularly in the wool and textile industry, influencing many related surnames such as Sherman, Shareman, and Shearman. The variant Sharman evolved through local accent and spelling: the ancestral surname was first recorded as Sharman in the 13th century.Notable Bearers
- Helen Sharman — British astronaut, first Briton in space, who traveled to Mir in 1991 as part of Project Juno.
- Bill Sharman — Hall of Fame basketball player (Boston Celtics) and coach, both in NCAA and NBA.
- Daniel Sharman — actor known for TV series The Vampire Diaries and Teen Wolf.
- Jimmy Sharman — prolific Australian boxer and circus showman.
- Charles Henry Ludovic Sharman — Canadian civil administrator.
Key Facts
- Meaning: “shear man”, an occupational surname form a cloth- or wool-worker.
- Origin: English
- Type: Surname
- Usage: English-speaking world
- Related: Sherman, Shearman, Shareman