Tamer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Tamer is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Tamer family lived in Oxfordshire. The name is an indication that its original bearer once lived near the River Thames.

Early Origins of the Tamer family

The surname Tamer was first found in Oxfordshire where the name is likely derived from the River Thame. Aluered de Tame was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Claricia de Thame in 1279. 2 Today, Thame is a market town and civil parish. "This town, which is evidently of Roman origin, is mentioned as a place of some importance at the commencement of the 10th century, when Wulfhere, King of Mercia, granted a charter dated 'in the vill called Thames.' In the year 970, Osketyl, Archbishop of York, died at Thame. It suffered much from the Danish invasions, particularly in 1010, and a fortification was erected here. At the Conquest it belonged to the Bishop of Lincoln, and till the reign of Edward VI. formed part of the extensive possessions of succeeding prelates, who conferred many benefits on the town, among which was the diverting through it the road that previously passed on its side. " 3 The family originally held estates in Chinnor, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Thame.

Early History of the Tamer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tamer research. Another 249 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1492, 1493 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Tamer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Tamer Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Tamer are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Tamer include Thame, Tharm, Tharme, Temes and others.

Early Notables of the Tamer family

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

Tamer migration to the United States +

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Tamer, or a variant listed above:

Tamer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Tamer, who arrived in Maryland in 1670 4

Tamer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ludwig Tamer, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 4
Johan Yost Tamer, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Tamer (post 1700) +

Tamer Hassan (b. 1968), British actor

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)