This interesting surname derives from Suliman, an Arabic form of the Hebrew male personal name Shelomo, from "shalom" meaning "peace". Salomon was widespread in the Middle ages among Christians and has for generations been a popular Jewish name. Among Christians it was also used as a nickname for a man who was considered wise, and for someone who had played the part of King Solomon in a miracle play. The surname dates back to the early 13th Century, (see below). Church recordings include one Thomas, son of Thome and Gracial Sulman, who was christened on December 23rd 1647 at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, William Sulman married Mary Adkin on October 1675 at St. Katherine by the Tower, London, and Robert Sulman married Sarah Panton on November 27th 1752 at St. George Mayfair, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Salmon, which was dated 1210, the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire, during the reign of King John known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. 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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