This article was written by Dwight Ozment.

Research with regard to the surname OZMENT reflects "this is an orthographical variant of the English surname OSMENT, which is derived from the English personal name OSMOND. Thus, the surname Ozment signifies "son" or descendant of Osmond. The personal name OSMOND is derived from the Old Norse given name ASMUNDR which is composed of two elements -- "as", meaning "god", and "mund", meaning "protection". The name was established in England before the Norman conquest, coalescing with the independent Old English form OSMUND, and was later reinforced by the Norman OSMUND.

Among the variants of the surname Ozment are found the following: OSMUND, OSMON, OSMAN, OSMANT, OSMENT, and OSMINT.

Early recorded instance to the surname OZMENT, or to a variant, date back to the 11th century and include a record of one OSMUND, Yorkshire, England who is registered in the Domesday Book in 1066 and is listed in the LDS genealogy records. There is one OSEMUNDUS clericus which is documented in the Curia Regis Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1222. There is also found one Roger HOSEMUND who is listed in the Feet of Fines in Northamptonshire in 1199. In Burke's General Armory there is also found a listing of a family by the name of OSMOND whose ancient family seals were located in Coventry and Barkeswell, both in Warwickshire."**

Ozment family's "hearsay histories" reflect that my OZMENT branch came form the area known as Alsace-Lorrain in France. They probably left that place during the religious "purging" that occurred in Europe in the 1600's.

My own research theories indicate the very early OZMENT "place of origin" may have been the area around Morocco, North Africa. From there they "probably" crossed over into Spain, then migrated along the France/Germany border (Alsace-Lorrain). These early Ozment descendants apparently migrated to Italy (thus the surname AUSMENTI), Turkey, the Scandinavian countries, and England/Ireland. This accounts for the different spellings of the surname OZMENT.

After they immigrated to North America (some by way of Barbados, West Indies as indentured servants and/or prisoners), at least three adult male Ozment's landed at ports on the Chesapeake Bay (Baltimore/Philadelphia), Charleston, SC and "possibly" New Orleans, LA. Some even say they came down the Mississippi from Canada (could it be they went up the Mississippi?).

The rest is mostly recorded history. They established families in MD, NC, SC, TN, KY, AL, LA, AR, TX, MO, IN, IL, OH, and CA in the late 1700's and early 1800's. And recently we have heard of an Osment family migrating to Australia. The surname misspellings or variations in America probably were the results of many things . . . misinterpreted ship's passenger lists, census-takers misunderstanding the European pronunciation, illegible and/or incorrect family records (including birth and death records) in family Bibles and hand-written notes.

As I have said, some of the above are personal theories. Some can be documented with valid sources and some cannot. It is up to us, as OZMENT/OSMENT family researchers, to determine (and share) the true genealogical facts by gathering and providing as much documentation and valid sources as possible. Perhaps one of our more scholarly Ozment "cousins" will dedicate his or herself to this monumental task. Maybe this has already been accomplished but I, like others, just have not received the word! We have this excellent OZMENT web page. Let's make use of it.

Dwight Wesley Ozment; dwozment@cs.com
Richmond, VA
June 13, 2000

** SOURCE: The Historical Research Center, Inc.