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Timms History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Timms History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Timms is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that is derived from the Old English personal name Tima or the Old German forename Thiemmo. Contrary to some popular theories, Timms is not derived from Timothy, since that name was not introduced in England until after the Restoration.

Early Origins of the Timms family

The surname Timms was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from ancient times before the Conquest in 1066.

Early History of the Timms family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Timms research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1620 is included under the topic Early Timms History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Timms Spelling Variations

Timms has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Timms have been found, including Timms, Timm, Tymms, Times and others.

Early Notables of the Timms family

Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Timms Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Timms Ranking

In the United States, the name Timms is the 6,947^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Timms migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Timmss to arrive on North American shores:

Timms Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Timms, who arrived in Maryland in 1667 2

Timms Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Timms, who arrived in New York in 1836 2
Benjamin Jervas Timms, who landed in New York, NY in 1843 2
Mary Timms, who landed in New York, NY in 1845 2

Timms migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Timms Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Timms who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
James Timms, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Louisa Baillie" in 1849 4
George Timms, aged 20, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Mallard" 5

Timms migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Timms Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Captain Timms, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Diana" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th July 1840 6
Charles Timms, aged 30, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
Selina Timms, aged 35, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
Samuel Timms, aged 9, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
Richard Timms, aged 7, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifford" in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Timms (post 1700) +

John J. Timms, American Republican politician, Member of West Virginia Republican State Executive Committee, 1937
Stephen Creswell Timms (b. 1955), English politician, member of Parliament for East Ham (1994-)
Kenneth George "Ken" Timms (1938-2023), Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL
Sally Timms (b. 1959), British singer songwriter
Robert Timms (1908-1993), Australian entrepreneur
Freddy Timms, leading Australian Indigenous artist
Christopher Ian Timms (1947-2004), New Zealand Olympic yachtsman
Alec Boswell Timms (1872-1922), Australian-born Scotland rugby international player
Michele Margaret Timms (b. 1965), Australian Olympic medal winning basketball player

Historic Events for the Timms family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. W Timms, British signalman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 7

HMS Royal Oak

Jack Timms, British Chief Mechanician with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 8

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The LOUISA BAILLIE 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849LouisaBaillie.htm
South Australian Register Thursday 26th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Mallard 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/mallard1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html