Show ContentsLorrimar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the name Lorrimar dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from a member of the family who worked as a person who worked as a lorimer which is an Old French word used to refer to those individuals who made stirrup irons, spurs and other metal articles that people used with horses.

As an occupational name, records of the name are widespread and in early records more often than not, the name was seen in its Lation form as by example, the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae listed Robert and John Lauremarius, Normandy 1180-1195. 1

However one source notes that the name could have been derived from "Goscelinus Loremarius, one of the Conqueror's tenants in chief, mentioned in Domesday [Book], co. Essex. " 2

Early Origins of the Lorrimar family

The surname Lorrimar was first found in Essex where the aforementioned Goscelinus Loremarius was listed shortly after the Conquest.

The use of the early Latin spelling was widespread as in Scotland, "Hugh Lorimarius and his heirs had a grant of lands near Perth from William the Lion (reign 1165-1214) for services performed by him. Matthew Lorimer, a descendant of Hugh, sold the lands to William de Len, burgess of Perth, by whom they were gifted to the Abbey of Scone in the reign of Alexander II. " 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Adam le Lorimer, Salop (Shropshire); Richard le Lorimer, Essex; Thomas Lormar, Essex; and William Lorinar, Oxfordshire. 4

Gervase Lorimarius, or Sadler, was Bailiff of Norwich in 1239. 5

Early History of the Lorrimar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lorrimar research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1643, 1677, 1702, 1706, 1712, 1779 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lorrimar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lorrimar Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Lorrimar has undergone many spelling variations, including Lorimer, Lorrimer, Lorrimore, Lorriman, Lorrimoor, Lorrimar, Larimore and many more.

Early Notables of the Lorrimar family

Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Larimore, (1677-1706) also Laramore, Larrimore, Laremore, Laremoor, American privateer and pirate active in the Caribbean and off the eastern seaboard of the American colonies. He was instrumental in helping...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lorrimar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Lorrimar family to Ireland

Some of the Lorrimar family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lorrimar family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Lorrimar were among those contributors: Patrick Lorimore who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1810; James, John and William Lorimer arrived in Philadelphia between 1820 and 1858; Patrick Lorimire settled in Philadelphia in 1850..


Contemporary Notables of the name Lorrimar (post 1700) +

  • Sydney Lorrimar Kirkby MBE (b. 1933), Australian surveyor and Antarctic explorer, eponym of the Kirkby Glacier and Mount Kirkby, Antarctica


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook