Truman
A surname meaning “true man” or “man of truth,” originally a nickname for a trustworthy person.
The #6,195 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 55,922 Americans shares it.
Etymology
This surname is generally explained as coming from Middle English tru(e) man, literally “true man,” from Old English trēowe meaning “true, faithful” plus man. It would have started as a nickname for someone seen as loyal, honest, or dependable. Some 19th-century writers also suggested other links, but the “true man” explanation is the standard one and fits the forms Trueman and Truman well.
History
The name appears in English records in several spellings, especially Trueman and Truman. It is found mainly in England and later in English-speaking countries such as the United States. Some older antiquarian sources tried to connect it with other surnames, but modern onomastic treatment usually treats it as a nickname surname.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Early surname writers sometimes glossed it very simply as “a man of truth or integrity.”
From the historical record
“Ulst. Journ. Arch. No. 2. Trewelove. H.R, TRUMAN. TRUEMAN. A man of truth or integrity. Treweman H.R. TRUGEON. An occasional cpelling of Tregian. TRULL. A parish in co. Somerset. TRULY. Truleigh, or Truly, is a manor in the parish of Edburton, co. Sussex.”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United KingdomNotable people named Truman
- Harry S. Truman (1884–1972)
- Bess Truman (1885–1982)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.