indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Surname (from occupation, from nickname & ornamental)
Usage Ukrainian, Polish, Jewish (Ashkenazi)
Scripts Гетьман(Ukrainian)
Other Forms FormsGetman (Russified)
Meaning & History
From a political title generally given to a military commander in Central and Eastern Europe, comparable to a field marshal, the term is probably ultimately derived from Middle High German heuptman "commander". It was mainly applied as a nickname for someone who acted like a hetman. As a Jewish name, it is ornamental.A famous bearer of the name was Ukrainian statesman Vadym Hetman (1935-1998), credited with the creation of the National Bank of Ukraine.