Recorded as Leman, Leeman and the patronymic Leemans, this is an English surname. Deriving from the pre 7th century elements "Leof-mann" with leof meaning beloved and "mann," a friend, it is first recorded in the famous Domesday Book of 1066 as Leman of Hampshire. Other early personal name recordings include Lemannus de Fordham in the register of Holme Abbey, Norfolk in 1175, and the strange variant of "Lufmancat" also from Hampshire, in 1273. The surname development may also have a later Huguenot influence as the name is recorded heraldically for the Province of Holland. The medieval surname development includes recordings such as William Lemmon of Worcester in 1275, whilst a much later recording taken at random from church registers is that of Robert Leeman who married Ann Campions at St. Martin's Church, Stamford Baron, Northamptonshire, on November 27th 1788. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Reiner Leman. This was dated 1185, in the Knight Templar (crusader) register forthe county of Essex, during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England, 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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