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The Meaning of the name CHAPMAN
Chapman is a derivative of the Saxon word Caepman, meaning a marketman, a monger or a merchant.
According to a list of colonial occupations, a chapman is a peddler or dealer of goods, usually itinerant, going from village to village.
The name comes from the Old High German choufman or koufman, which became the Old English céapman. Old High German chouph, Old Saxon cop and Old English céap meant barter, business, dealing, which, combined with mann or man, gives the name CHAPMAN.
Other spellings of the name include cepeman, cypman, cypmann, chepmon, caepmon, and even shapman!
The Oxford English Dictionary supplies four meanings for chapman.
A chapman was a man whose business was buying and selling—a merchant, trader or dealer.
Second, he was an itinerant dealer who traveled about from place to place selling or buying; one who kept booths at markets etc; a hawker, a peddler (English spelling).
The third meaning is that of an agent in a commercial transaction, a negotiator or broker.
Fourth, a chapman was a purchaser or customer.
There is also a citation that appears to be a law handed down by Edward VI in 1553. A Petty chapman was a retail dealer. Edward said "No Tinker, Peddler, or petit Chapman shall wander about from the Towne but such as shall be licensed by two Justices of Peace."
My Family Tree is a 60 minute documentary that I have made with my digital camcorder and edited into a video production.
This documentary is the story of four families. It is the story of my father's parents, Brigden and Chapman, and my mother's parents, Crowhurst and Plowman.
The video can be purchased for £5 plus £2 postage and packaging. To order a copy click here