Tracing the Erdman Family Name

Spelled Erdman, the surname still points back to Erdmann. The family name meaning is “Strong man / earth man”, the same as for Erdmann.

• The same family of names includes Erdtmann, Ertmann and Erthmann.
• The Census Bureau's 2010 surname file lists Erdman with 6,558 bearers, at rank 5,311. It sits among the 10,000 most common last names in the country.
• Erdman drops the “n” of Erdmann, a shortening that clerks often made.
• Spellings drifted because names were written down by ear in parish books, tax rolls and passenger lists.

Erdman coat of arms

Looking for an Erdman coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. Get the complete Erdman report, with a museum-style coat of arms.