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First found in Liegnitz, where the first on record appears to be Franke de Vurman, in 1386.
This surname of FUHRMAN is a German occupational name for a carrier or carter, a driver of horse-drawn vehicles. The name was originally derived from the German word FUHRER meaning 'to lead, to transport'. Many of the modern family names throughout Europe reflect the profession or occupation of their forbears in the Middle Ages and derive from the position held by their ancestors in the village, noble household or religious community in which they lived and worked. The addition of their profession to their birth name made it easier to identify individual tradesmen and craftsmen. As generations passed and families moved around, so the original identifying names developed into the corrupted but simpler versions that we recognise today. The name is also spelt FUHRICH, FURER, FUHRER, FUHRMANN, VORMANN and VOEMAN. A notable member of the name was Joseph van FUHRICH (1800-76) the Viennese religious painter, born in Kratzau in Bohemia. His work can be seen in churches throughout Austria. |