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Furman
How to Pronounce Furman
Pronounced FUR-mun /ˈfɜr.mən/Medium
Meaning: Furman comes from a surname, an Anglicized form of German Fuhrmann, 'carter' or 'wagoner' (one who drove a horse-drawn wagon), with an English strand meaning 'ferryman.' Adopted as a first name in the American South, it carries that occupational sense.Medium
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Furman began as a surname, an Anglicized Fuhrmann meaning 'carter' or 'wagoner,' with a parallel English sense 'ferryman.' Like many Southern families, parents lifted the surname to the front of the name, and it reached its high around 1918.
Furman held on through the early twentieth century, mostly in the South, then dwindled to rarity by the century's end. It sits with Truman, Norman, and Herman among the -man surname-names of that generation, reading today as a grandfather-or-older choice.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Furman mean?
Furman is from a surname meaning 'carter, wagoner' (German Fuhrmann) or 'ferryman.'
How do you pronounce Furman?
It's said FUR-mun /ˈfɜr.mən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Furman a boy or girl name?
Furman is used as a boy's name.
How popular is Furman?
Furman is rare today. It was a Southern favorite that peaked in the nineteen-teens and has been uncommon for generations.