Show ContentsBrimer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Brimer was brought to England in the wave of migration that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a name for a priest or other ecclesiastical official who read at prime, the first canonical hour. The occupational name Primmer is derived from the Latin primus meaning first, prime. there was also another occupation which was known by the name primmer, and that was the Chief Forester of the King's lands. Since each derivation is equally appropriate Brimer is a classic example of an English polygenetic surname, which is a surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently.

Early Origins of the Brimer family

The surname Brimer was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Brimer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Brimer research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Brimer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brimer Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Brimer include Primer, Primar, Primmer, Brymmer, Brimmer and many more.

Early Notables of the Brimer family

More information is included under the topic Early Brimer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Brimer Ranking

In the United States, the name Brimer is the 13,575th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Brimer family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Brimers to arrive on North American shores: John Primms, who settled in Maryland in 1679; William Primmer, who came to America in 1724; Adam Primmer, whose oath of allegiance was recorded in Pennsylvania in 1777.


Contemporary Notables of the name Brimer (post 1700) +

  • Kenneth Brimer, American Republican politician, Member of Texas State House of Representatives 96th District; Elected 1992; Elected unopposed 1994, 1996, 1998; Elected 2000 2
  • Michael Brimer (1933-2023), South African-Australian pianist, organist, conductor, composer, musicologist, and academic
  • Susan Brimer Loving, American lawyer, Oklahoma's first female Attorney General


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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