Show ContentsTrimmer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Trimmer family

The surname Trimmer was first found in Cornwall in the parish of Lanivet where "the manor of Tremere belonged at a very early period to a family of that name; but on the extinction of the male branches, it was carried by an heiress to the St. Aubyns, from whom it passed into the Robartes family. In Lanivet churchyard there are two very ancient crosses, both of which appear to have been much ornamented, though they are now greatly corroded by time, and the constant action of the elements. One, which stands on the north side of the church, is about ten feet high ; this was decorated on both sides chiefly with braids. The other, which is near eleven feet high, and stands near the west end of the church, seems to have been ornamented with scrolls. This stone is perforated with four holes near its summit; but to what use they were applied, it is scarcely possible to conjecture. Within the church are some monuments of the Courtenay family of Tremere." 1

Early History of the Trimmer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Trimmer research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Trimmer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Trimmer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Trimmer, Trimmor, Trymmer, Trimmar, Trymmar, Trimer, Tremer, Tremere, Tremmer and many more.

Early Notables of the Trimmer family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • the Trimmer family of Hampshire

Trimmer Ranking

In the United States, the name Trimmer is the 14,731st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2


United States Trimmer migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Trimmer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johannes Trimmer, who arrived in New Jersey in 1744 3
  • Matthias Trimmer, who arrived in New Jersey in 1744 3

Canada Trimmer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Trimmer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Trimmer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Australia Trimmer migration to Australia +

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

Trimmer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Trimmer, British convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4
  • William Trimmer, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Marshall Bennett" 5

New Zealand Trimmer 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:

Trimmer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Trimmer, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 6
  • William Trimmer, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Trimmer (post 1700) +

  • Perry R. Trimmer, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1964 7
  • Eliphaz Trimmer, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Monroe County 2nd District, 1856 7
  • Edwin W. Trimmer (b. 1851), American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Port Deitrick, 1905; U.S. Consul in Port Deitrick, 1905-11; Niagara Falls, 1911-14 7
  • Mrs Sarah Trimmer (1741-1810), English authoress, born at Ipswich, the only daughter of John Joshua Kirby
  • Joshua Trimmer (1795-1857), English geologist, born at North Cray in Kent, the eldest son of Joshua Kirkby Trimmer, grandson of Mrs. Sarah Trimmer
  • Sir Jon Charles Trimmer KNZM, MBE, (1939-2023), New Zealand ballet dancer


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
  5. South Australian Register Friday 29 April 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Marshall Bennett 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/marshallbennett1853.shtml
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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