Elmers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Elmers surname is a habitational derived from the place name Elmore in Gloucestershire. The place name is in turn derived from the Old English "elm," meaning "elm," and "ofer," meaning "river bank," or "ridge." Another authority claims that the name was originally an Anglo-Saxon personal name. 1

"This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor, 'the son of Aylmar' or 'Ailmar.' " 2 "This family trace their name and descent from Ailmer or Athelmare, Earl of Cornwall, in the time of King Ethelred. Allmor, in Welsh, signifies a valley or dale." 3

Early Origins of the Elmers family

The surname Elmers was first found in Hampshire, where the first on record appears to have been Godwinus filius Elmari listed in 1115. 4

"A common surname in the Hundred Rolls. It was already going out of fashion in the 13th century as a font-name, and is rarely found as such in the 14th century, but it secured hereditary honours as a surname somewhat early, and as a consequence is well represented in our directories." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Aymar Hitche, Huntingdonshire; Adam Aylmer, Cambridgeshire; William Aylmar, Oxfordshire; and Avice Ailmar, Cambridgeshire.

John Aylmere, was rector of Ingworth, Norfolk in 1353. 5 Kirby's Quest listed Thomas Atlmer, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of Edward III's reign.) 6

Much further to the north in Scotland, Emme de Ailmer and Roger de Almere, both of Selkirkshire, rendered homage to King Edward I. in 1296. "The seal of the latter bears a hunting horn, stringed, and S' Roger d' Ainmer. As Roger de Aylemer, he accounts in 1304 for the ward of Trequair. Adam Aylmer was a tenant under the earl of Douglas in the vill of Tybris, 1376. " 7

Early History of the Elmers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elmers research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1221, 1316, 1421, 1516, 1521, 1543, 1552, 1553, 1557, 1558, 1570, 1571, 1574, 1594, 1601, 1602, 1634, 1650, 1672, 1720 and 1733 are included under the topic Early Elmers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elmers Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Elmers have been found, including Aylmer, Aylmore, Elmar, Elmer, Elmers, Elmore and others.

Early Notables of the Elmers family

Distinguished members of the family include Edward Almer or Aylmer (c. 1516-1574), of Denbigh and Gresford, Denbighshire, a Welsh politician, Justice of the Peace for Denbighshire from 1543 to his death and High Sheriff of Denbighshire for 1552-1553, 1557-1558 and 1570-1571. John Aylmer (AElmer or Elmer; 1521-1594), was an English bishop, constitutionalist and a Greek scholar. He was Bishop...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Elmers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Elmers family to Ireland

Some of the Elmers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 122 words (9 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 Elmers family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Elmers, or a variant listed above: Richard Elmore, who came to Boston in 1632; Edward Elmore, who came to Boston in 1632; Henry Elmore, who arrived in Virginia in 1653;Charles Elmore, who settled in Maryland in 1671.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. 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)