Show ContentsBrimmer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Brimmer is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following 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 Brimmer 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 Brimmer family

The surname Brimmer 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 Brimmer family

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

Brimmer Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Brimmer has been recorded under many different variations, including Primer, Primar, Primmer, Brymmer, Brimmer and many more.

Early Notables of the Brimmer family

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

Brimmer Ranking

In the United States, the name Brimmer is the 9,053rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Brimmer migration to the United States +

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Brimmers were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America:

Brimmer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Martin Brimmer, who landed in New England in 1726 [2]
  • Hans Georg Brimmer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 [2]
Brimmer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Brimmer, who arrived in America in 1812 [2]
  • William Brimmer, who arrived in New York in 1832 [2]
  • William Brimmer, who settled in Philadelphia in 1856

New Zealand Brimmer 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:

Brimmer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Elizabeth Brimmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anne Dymes" in 1864
  • Mary Brimmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anne Dymes" in 1864

Contemporary Notables of the name Brimmer (post 1700) +

  • Philip A. Brimmer (b. 1959), United States federal judge
  • Martin Brimmer (1793-1847), American politician, ninth mayor of Boston, Massachusetts (1843 to 1844)
  • Esther Brimmer, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organizations
  • David Brimmer, American voice actor and fight choreographer
  • Clarence Addison Brimmer Jr. (b. 1922), United States federal judge
  • Andrew Brimmer (b. 1926), American economist, academic, and business leader, the first African American Governor of the Federal Reserve System
  • Martin Brimmer (1793-1847), American politician, Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, 1843-44 [3]
  • Clarence Addison Brimmer Jr. (b. 1922), American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Wyoming, 1956; Wyoming State Attorney General, 1971-74; U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, 1974-75 [3]
  • Gabriela "Gaby" Brimmer (1947-2000), Mexican writer and activist for persons with disabilities


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


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