Shuman

Shuman - The surname Shuman is traditionally considered to be of German origin. It is thought to have originated from a settlement of shoemakers and leather merchants in Germany. Some suggest the name is derived as a corruption of the German spelling Schömman. However a more accepted theory is that it's present spelling, Shuman, is an Americanization of Schumman. In fact one spelling has the name further reduced to Suman.[1]

This branch of the Shuman family in America is descended from Rudolph Shuman. Rudolph settled first in middle Pennsylvania - Lancaster county then in Northumberland, which later became Columbia, county, Pennsylvania, in the later part of the 18th century, an area at that time still very much a wilderness.

A tradition exists that Rudolph arrived from Europe with three brothers. Almost all accounts agree that one brother was George Shuman of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Other's suggest that Philip Shuman of Waldoboro, Maine and Peter Suman of Frederick, Frederick county, Maryland, (across the Pennsylvania/Maryland border very near Lancaster county) were the two other brothers.

Emigration from Germany to the American colonies was common during this period. Religious repression was widespread in Germany in the mid and late eighteenth century, forcing many to flee to both England and elsewhere.

There are no know records of Rudolph's arrival in America, nor for that matter of his supposed brothers. There were no known arrivals from Germany during the time it was thought Rudolph (and his supposed brothers) was to have arrived. It is assumed that Rudolph and his siblings would have emigrated from England, or at least on English ships, which was common at the time.

Although the surname Shuman is not especially common in America there are Shuman families in almost all states. Rudolph is the only known Shuman of his family to emigrate. No known proof exists that identifies George, Peter or Philip, or anyone else as his siblings. Only proximity, family traditions and other circumstantial evidence suggests that conclusion. Furthermore, nothing exists that connects him with any other American Shuman family or for that matter any of their German or other European ancestors. It would be safe to assume however that some relationship does exist between those of this lineage and those with the same or similar surname, both hear and abroad.

It is sometimes thought their exists a kinship between the great musician Robert Schuman and this Shuman family. However no known relationship exists to support this theory. As put so well by William C. Shuman, in his book - The George Shuman Family - "But perhaps this is a case in which the wish is father to the thought."

Rudolph Shuman's Siblings:

George Shuman was born about 1720 or 1725 in the kingdom of Würtemberg in what is now Germany. He emigrated from Europe and settled by 1872 on the upper end of Turkey Hill, in Manor township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. He had several children: Michael (b.1758), John (b.1761), Henry (b.1764), Andrew (b.1774), Christian (b.1771), Elizabeth (b.1779), Jacob (b.1781), Mary (b.1784), Frederick (b.1786), and George (b.1788).[2] about 1760.

Peter Suman was born about 1727, he died about 1781

Philip Shuman was born about 1745, he died about 1787