Contents [hide]

Dinsmoor History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Dinsmoor History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The story of the Dinsmoor family begins in ancient Scotland among the Pictish clans. The Dinsmoor family lived on the lands of Dundemore in Fife where the family has a long and distinguished history dating back to the early Middle Ages. The name literally means "the fortified hill," and many old strongholds in Scotland are so called. 1

Early Origins of the Dinsmoor family

The surname Dinsmoor was first found in Fife, in the territories of Dundemore, near Lindores. One of the first records of the name was Henry de Dundemore who witnessed a confirmation charter by John, Earl of Huntigdoun of land in Kynalchmund to the Abbey of Arboirath c. 1219 and later witnessed another charter by the same earl granting lands of Lundors to the monks of Lindores (c.1232-1237.) 2

In 1296, the Ragman Rolls listed Patrik de Dundemor and William de Dundemor as landholders in Fife.

Further to the south in England, Dinmore is an extra-parochial liberty, in the hundred of Grimsworth in Herefordshire. Here, "on Dinmore Hill was a commandery of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, founded by a brother of the order, in the reign of Henry II." 3

Hope under Dinmore is found in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Originally recorded as Hope in the Domesday Book of 1086 4, it became in Latin, Hope sub Dinnemor in 1291. "Dinmore may be a Welsh name 'din mauer,' meaning 'great fort,' or alternatively 'marsh of a man called Dynna,' from the Old English personal name + "mor." 5

Dinmore Manor House is a large rural house that dates back to 1189 when it was thought to have been built by Knights Templar.

Early History of the Dinsmoor family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dinsmoor research. Another 248 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1305, 1317, 1330, 1406, 1585, 1643, 1650, 1661, 1662, 1670, 1686, 1688, 1723 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Dinsmoor History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dinsmoor Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Dinsmoor has appeared Dinsmore, Dinsmuir, Dunsmore, Dansmore, Dunmuir and many more.

Early Notables of the Dinsmoor family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dinsmoor Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dinsmoor family to Ireland

Some of the Dinsmoor family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dinsmoor migration to the United States +

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Dinsmoor name:

Dinsmoor Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Dinsmoor, who landed in New England in 1725 6

Dinsmoor Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alice Dinsmoor, aged 22, who arrived in America, in 1894

Dinsmoor Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Miss Alice Dinsmoor, aged 56, who arrived in America, in 1905
Paul Dinsmoor, aged 45, who arrived in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1924
William Bell Dinsmoor, aged 38, who arrived in New York, N.Y., in 1924
William Bell Dinsmoor, aged 2, who arrived in New York, N.Y., in 1924
Dorothy Dinsmoor, aged 18, who arrived in America from Lawrence, Ka, in 1924
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dinsmoor (post 1700) +

James "Jim" A. Dinsmoor (1921-2005), American experimental psychologist who published work in the field of the experimental analysis of behavior
Samuel Perry Dinsmoor (1843-1932), American teacher and eccentric sculptor
Silas Dinsmoor (1766-1847), American Agent to the Cherokee (1794-1798) and to the Choctaw (1801-1813)
William Bell Dinsmoor Sr. (1886-1973), American architectural historian of classical Greece and professor at Columbia University
Charles Dinsmoor (1834-1904), American inventor and lawyer, best known for inventing the endless chain tractor in 1886, a forerunner of the continuous track vehicle
Samuel Dinsmoor Jr. (1799-1869), American lawyer, banker, politician, 22nd Governor of New Hampshire (1849-1852)
Samuel Dinsmoor (1766-1835), American teacher, lawyer, banker and politician, 14th Governor of New Hampshire (1831-1834)
Samuel Dinsmoor (1766-1835), American politician, Member of New Hampshire Governor's Council, 1821; State Court Judge in New Hampshire, 1823-31; Governor of New Hampshire, 1831-34 7
James D. Dinsmoor, American politician, Member of West Virginia State Senate 3rd District, 1921-24 7
J. Denton Dinsmoor, American Republican politician, Chair of Pleasants County Republican Party, 1952 7
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Dinsmoor 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: Spes anchora tuta
Motto Translation: Hope is a safe anchor.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html