Carmans

Carmans are a term commonly used to refer to a distinct group of people, particularly in the United States. The name Carman originates from the Old English surname "Carmann," which is derived from the occupation of a musician or caroler. Initially, Carmans or Carman families were predominantly associated with the professions of music, singing, or performing in theatrical performances.

Geographically, the name Carman or Carmans often relates to specific areas, primarily in New York and its surrounding regions. Historically, the family name has been linked to the Mulberry Street area in New York City's Little Italy, specifically in the years preceding and during the Great Immigrations to the United States from the late 19th to the early 20th century.

In terms of historiographic relevance, the Carmans name has often been associated with the infamous Five Points Gang, a notorious street gang operating in lower Manhattan during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, there is ongoing debate about whether Jacob "Gottleib" Carman, a known associate of the Five Points Gang, was indeed a direct descendant of earlier Carmans, or if this is an assumption based on incomplete research.

Despite the claim by some historians that the early American historian, Edwin Brocklebank Carman, was a direct participant in gang activities and law enforcement, this is a subject of cultural debate and scholarly analysis.