Freeman is an English surname with origins in the Anglo-Saxon period. It was commonly given to people who were not serfs or slaves, but rather free men who owned property or were craftsmen. The name has spread around the world, especially to the United States, Canada, and Australia. Notable Freemans include actor Morgan Freeman and civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.’s maternal family. The surname’s meaning and history demonstrate the importance of freedom and social status in English history.
