Norman refers to the people from Normandy, a region in northern France, and particularly to their descendants who conquered England in 1066. When historians talk about the Norman Conquest, they mean the invasion led by William the Conqueror, who crossed the English Channel with his army and defeated the Anglo-Saxon King Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

The Normans weren't originally French. They were descended from Viking raiders who had settled in northern France about 150 years earlier. The French king gave them this land to stop their attacks, and over time these warriors adopted the French language and customs. When they conquered England, the Normans brought French words, French architecture (like massive stone castles), and French ways of governing. This is why English has so many words borrowed from French, like beef, pork, and government.

The Norman influence reshaped England completely. They built impressive cathedrals and castles that still stand today. They created detailed records (the famous Domesday Book catalogued property across England). Norman nobles replaced Anglo-Saxon lords, and for centuries afterward, England's ruling class spoke French while common people spoke English.

When you see a last name like Norman or Norris, it can indicate Norman ancestry. The architectural style they favored, with round arches and thick walls, is called Romanesque or Norman architecture.