What is origin of the names Thurman and Hickambottom (or spelled Higginbottom)?

Question

Thurman is my maiden name and I do know it is a rare name in population. Hickambottom was my great grandfather's father's last name. A bit unusual, but like to know where it comes from. Hickambottom could be spelled Higginbottom or somewhere in different spellings. Can you help me?

Answer 1

THURMAN NAME MEANING AND HISTORY

English (East Midlands): from the Middle English personal name Thurmond, Old Norse þormundr, composed of the elements þórr, name of the Norse god of thunder (see Thor) + mundr ‘protection’. Reaney and Wilson suggest that, Thurmond having been an uncommon personal name, this surname may also represent the commoner name Thurmod, Thormod with the second element derived from Old Norse móþr ‘mind’, ‘courage’, but assimilated to -mund (a common second element in other compound names).

German (Thurmann): habitational name for someone from a place called Thur (see Thur).

German (Thurmann): occupational name for a watchman, from Middle Low German torn(e)man (torn(e) ‘tower’) or Middle High German turn, turm ‘tower’ + man ‘man’.

Respelling of Jewish (from Ukraine) Turman, a nickname from Yiddish turman ‘inconstant man’.

Most Thurman's (21) came from Germany 7 came from England, 3 from France, 1 from Norway, and one from Prussia.

I can find the surname Higginbottom from Northern england, as a spelling variation as Higginbotham which is English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): habitational name from a place in Lancashire now known as Oakenbottom. The history of the place name is somewhat confused, but it is probably composed of the Old English elements ?cen or acen ‘oaken’ + botme ‘broad valley’. During the Middle Ages this name became successively Eakenbottom and Ickenbottom, the first element becoming associated with the dialect word hicken or higgen ‘mountain ash’ or the personal name Higgin.

Hope this helped!

P.S.

Most Higginbottoms (57) from from England, 9 from Ireland, 3 from Scotland, and 1 from Carlow

Answer 2

This is what www.ancestry.com has to say about the names,

Thurman Name Meaning and History

English (East Midlands): from the Middle English personal name Thurmond, Old Norse þormundr, composed of the elements þórr, name of the Norse god of thunder (see Thor) + mundr ‘protection’. Reaney and Wilson suggest that, Thurmond having been an uncommon personal name, this surname may also represent the commoner name Thurmod, Thormod with the second element derived from Old Norse móþr ‘mind’, ‘courage’, but assimilated to -mund (a common second element in other compound names).

German (Thurmann): habitational name for someone from a place called Thur (see Thur).

German (Thurmann): occupational name for a watchman, from Middle Low German torn(e)man (torn(e) ‘tower’) or Middle High German turn, turm ‘tower’ + man ‘man’.

Respelling of Jewish (from Ukraine) Turman, a nickname from Yiddish turman ‘inconstant man’.

Higginbottom Name Meaning and History

Northern English: variant of Higginbotham.

hope this helps.

Answer 3

Higginbottom Name Meaning and History

Northern English: variant of Higginbotham.

Higginbotham Name Meaning and History

English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): habitational name from a place in Lancashire now known as Oakenbottom. The history of the place name is somewhat confused, but it is probably composed of the Old English elements ?cen or acen ‘oaken’ + botme ‘broad valley’. During the Middle Ages this name became successively Eakenbottom and Ickenbottom, the first element becoming associated with the dialect word hicken or higgen ‘mountain ash’ or the personal name Higgin.

Thurman Name Meaning and History

1. English (East Midlands): from the Middle English personal name Thurmond, Old Norse þormundr, composed of the elements þóorr, name of the Norse god of thunder (see Thor) + mundr ‘protection’. Reaney and Wilson suggest that, Thurmond having been an uncommon personal name, this surname may also represent the commoner name Thurmod, Thormod with the second element derived from Old Norse móþr ‘mind’, ‘courage’, but assimilated to -mund (a common second element in other compound names).

2.German (Thurmann): habitational name for someone from a place called Thur (see Thur).

3.German (Thurmann): occupational name for a watchman, from Middle Low German torn(e)man (torn(e) ‘tower’) or Middle High German turn, turm ‘tower’ + man ‘man’.

4.Respelling of Jewish (from Ukraine) Turman, a nickname from Yiddish turman ‘inconstant man’.

www.familysearch.org shows these varied spellings for Hickambottom: HICKEMBOTTOM ; HICKUMBOTTOM; HICKOMBOTTOM ; HEGINBOTTAM ; HIGGINBOTTOM; HIGGINBOTHAM ;HIGINBOTHAM; HICCOMBOTTOM--and all primarily in the US, England and Ireland.

   One of the earliest listings shown was for Agnes Higginbotham, born  03 JUL 1551 in  Ellastone, Stafford, England ,  her father John was born  about 1515 (died    18 JUN 1555 ), and her mother was born in 1517 .Her brother, John Jr. was born in 1553.

Various spellings of Thurman are: THURMOND;  THERMAN;

THURMON ; THORMAN ; THREMAN ; THERMON ; THIRMAN ; THURMANN ; DOHRMANN ; DORMANN; TOROMAN; DOERRMANN; DOHRMANN; and  DORMANS.

    It is found in the US (mostly in the south from Texas on east, and some in Iowa/Nebraska), Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Germany,  Switzerland, Barbados,  India, Philippines, South Africa, Wales, & Canada.

   Early listings:

Alice Thurman--b. England, 1543

John THURMAN --b 1604, England, d. 1638 in VA