Schrimshaw History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Some surnames are derived from the occupation of the person who first held the name. Schrimshaw is most likely such a name, referring to one who was a fencing-master, coming from the old French "eskermisseour", meaning "fencer" and which came in turn from the old high German word "skirmen", which meant "to defend". Such fencing-masters always found plentiful employment in medieval Europe, though they were officially banned from some large cities, such as London, because they could be a dangerous influence on others. Notice the similarities between the name Schrimshaw and the modern English word "skirmisher".

Scrimshaw is the name given to scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory. No one known why this name was attributed to whalers who spent their leisure time carving such works.

Early Origins of the Schrimshaw family

The surname Schrimshaw was first found in Fife, where some records speak of a Clan Scrymgeour, who held the position of hereditary standard-bearers of Scotland.

One of them, known originally as Alexander, son of Colyn, son of Carun, obtained in 1293 a lease of the land or Torr from Thomas de Kylmaron for his services in this position of standard-bearer.

By 1298, Alexander had adopted the name 'Skirmeschur' and had a charter for some lands near Dundee from Sir William Wallace, Guardian of the Kingdom. Along with the lands came the title of Constable of the Castle of Dundee and this became a hereditary office of the Chief of the Scrimgeours.

Eight years later, he was taken as a prisoner of war and was hung at Newcastle-on-Tyne on the express orders of Edward I.

Early History of the Schrimshaw family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Schrimshaw research. Another 280 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1106, 1124, 1298, 1310, 1411, 1503, 1505, 1538, 1544, 1550, 1572, 1575, 1576, 1612 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Schrimshaw History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schrimshaw Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Scrimgeor, Scrimshaw, Scrimshawe, Scrimshire, Scrimsger, Scrymgeour, Scrymgeor, Scrimger and many more.

Early Notables of the Schrimshaw family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Henry Scrimgeour or Scrymgeour (c. 1505-1572), Scottish born diplomat and book collectorJohn Scrimgeour of Myres Castle, Fife was Master of Work for royal buildings for James V and Mary, Queen of Scots, and Precentor of the Scottish Chapel Royal fl 1538.John Scrymgeour, 3rd Viscount Dudhope and 1st Earl of Dundee (d. 1668), was a Scottish peer who fought in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Sir James Scrymgeour (1550?-1612), of Dudhope, "Constable of Dundee, was descended from Sir Alexander Carron, called 'Skirmisheour,' who was standard-bearer to Alexander I (1106-1124), an office still held...
Another 116 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Schrimshaw Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Schrimshaw migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Schrimshaw Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andrew Schrimshaw, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 1

The Schrimshaw Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Dissipate
Motto Translation: Dispursed.

Citations +

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)