Show ContentsGrime History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Grime is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the baptismal name for the son of Grimme. [1] "Grym, an ancient personal name, apparently Scandinavian." [2] The plural from with an "s" ending is most popular today.

Early Origins of the Grime family

The surname Grime was first found in Northumberland, where the forename Grim de Leuertone was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1175. It is one of the few names that can actually claim descent from the Domesday Book of 1086. There the family was listed in Latin as Grim, Grimus and Grimmus. [3]

Godwin Grim was found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1170 and Bernard Grim was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Cheshire in 1183. Again in Cheshire, Alan Grime was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. William Grym was found in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1309 and Thomas Grym in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire in 1332. [4]

In Yorkshire, John Gryme was found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and John Gryme in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. [4]

The Hundredorum Rolls also list: Alan Grime, Cambridgeshire; Robert Grim, Huntingdonshire; and Warin Grim, Cambridgeshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls also include: Johannes Gryme; Ricardas Gryme; and Willelmus Gryme. [1]

Up in Scotland, the Grim variant is most popular but over the years the family was well established as early as the twelfth century. And it is here that the name may be a from of the name Graham. "Thomas Grym witnessed a confirmation by Patrick, Earl of Dunber. (no date) Cuthbert Grym was a pledge for Andro Fishar, 1488, and William Grime was burgess of Montrose, 1635. Sir James Grym was co-notary in Strathmiglo, 1541. Isobel Gryme is recorded in Montrose, 1641, and another Isobel Grim in Dundee, 1683. " [5]

Early History of the Grime family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Grime research. Another 190 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1279, 1329, 1400, 1546, 1605, 1614, 1628, 1629, 1646, 1657, 1660, 1690, 1701 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Grime History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Grime Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Grime has been spelled many different ways, including Grimes, Grimm, Grime, Grimme, Grimmes and others.

Early Notables of the Grime family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Sir George Grimes (1605-1657), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Haslemere (1628-1629) supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; Robert Graham or Grimes (died 1701), a Scott...

Ireland Migration of the Grime family to Ireland

Some of the Grime family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 72 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Grime migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Grimes to arrive in North America:

Grime Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Grime, who landed in Virginia in 1664 [6]
  • Ann Grime, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 [6]
Grime Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Caren Grime, aged 22, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 [6]
  • Adam Grime, aged 25, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 [6]
  • Laths Grime, aged 30, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1741 [6]
  • Friederich Grime, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1786 [6]
Grime Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Grime, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 [6]
  • Eleanor, Frederick, George, James, John, and Thomas Grime, who settled in Pennsylvania between 1772 and 1854

Contemporary Notables of the name Grime (post 1700) +

  • George Grime (1859-1928), American politician, Mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts, (1902-1904)
  • John Philip Grime FRS, British ecologist and emeritus professor at the University of Sheffield, best known for his CSR theory on plant strategies
  • Helen Grime (b. 1981), Scottish composer


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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