Show ContentsChrimes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The generations and branches of the Chrimes family share a name that has its roots in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. The name Chrimes 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 Chrimes family

The surname Chrimes 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 Chrimes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chrimes 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 Chrimes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chrimes Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Chrimes include Grimes, Grimm, Grime, Grimme, Grimmes and others.

Early Notables of the Chrimes 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 Scottish colonel in the British Army and later a Trappist monk; and Elisha Crymes (c 1614-1690), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Tavistock in 1646 and 1660.Richard Crymes, a London haberdasher, bought Buckland Abbey, Devon in 1546 but in 1660 it was sold to...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chrimes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Chrimes family to Ireland

Some of the Chrimes 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 Chrimes migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Chrimes or a variant listed above:

Chrimes Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Samuel Chrimes, aged 8, who immigrated to the United States from Dudley, in 1905
  • Charles Chrimes, aged 10, who immigrated to the United States from Dudley, England, in 1913
  • Jane Chrimes, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Dudley, England, in 1913
  • Mary Chrimes, aged 30, who settled in America from Liverpool, England, in 1914
  • William B. Chrimes, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Liverpool, England, in 1914
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Chrimes migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Chrimes Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Harry Chrimes, aged 39, who immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, in 1919

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Norman Chrimes, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [6]


  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. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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