Show ContentsCatsman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Catsman comes from one of the family having worked as a servant of someone named Cade, or a person who packed herring into barrels or made the barrels themselves. 1

The surname may also be derived from Saint Cædmon, which was the name of a poet who died around 680 AD. 2

According to the Venerable Bede, Cædmon was an illiterate herdsman who received divine inspiration in a dream to enter a monastery and write religious poetry. He is principally known for the work entitled "Cædmon's Hymn." 2

Thomas de Chabham or Chobham (fl. 1230), was an early English theologian and is mentioned as sub-dean of Salisbury in 1214 and 1230. 2

Early Origins of the Catsman family

The surname Catsman was first found in Yorkshire where the name "is a North English name. The temptation to make it occupative is great. A 'cade of herynge' is as old as the Promptorium Parvulorum, and the cademan would seem naturally to be one who packed herring in cades, or barrels, or perhaps the cooper who made them. But the name is always found without prefix." 3

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: A. Robert Cademan.; J. Thomas Cademain; Robertus Cadman; and Ricardus Caddeman. 3

Early History of the Catsman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Catsman research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1590, 1620, 1623, 1626 and 1661 are included under the topic Early Catsman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Catsman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Catsman have been found, including: Cadman, Cadiman, Caddman, Caedman, Caedmon, Chadman, Catman, Cattman, Katman, Kadman, Kaddman, Cudman, Cuddman, Cutman, Cuttman, Codman, Coddman, Coadman, Codeman, Caidman, Cadsman, Cadesman, Cattsman, Coldman, Caldman, Caldmen and many more.

Early Notables of the Catsman family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Thomas Cademan (1590?-1661), English physician, born in Norfolk about 1590, educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. "He then studied abroad, and took the degree of M.D. at Padua March 1620. In May and June 1623 he passed his examination before the censors of the Royal College of Physicians of...
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Catsman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Catsman family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Catsman, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were : Joe Cadman and his wife Hannah who settled in Georgia in 1733; Warner Cadman arrived in New England in 1764; Jonas Cadiman arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1743.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


Houseofnames.com on Facebook