Show ContentsKimes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Kimes is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Kimes family lived in Lincolnshire. The surname comes from one of two places in Lincolnshire which bear the name Kyme: South Kyme and North Kyme, both in the vicinity of Tattershall. [1]

Early Origins of the Kimes family

The surname Kimes was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Kestevan. At the time of the taking of the Domesday Book census in 1086 initiated by Duke William of Normandy after his conquest of England in 1066, the holdings are not shown but later, within the next century, it was recorded as the Honour of Kymes. [2]

"This parish, which is situated on that part of the Sleaford navigation called Kyme Eau, derived its name from the Kyme family, who were barons by tenure and writ in the reign of Stephen, and had a seat here, mentioned by Leland as a 'goodly house and park,' of which only the tower now remains." [1]

Sir William, the founder of the family, also founded the Priory of Bolinton about 1135. "The Kymes assumed the surname from a fair lordship, the principal place of their residence in Kesteven. " [3]

Sir Philip de Kyme was the first officially recorded, succeeded by his son Sir William de Kyme. Sir Philip was Baron Kyme, Lord of the Manor, and was summoned to Parliament in 1295-1313 to represent Lincolnshire. Sir William was summoned to Parliament in 1323-1336.

Early History of the Kimes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kimes research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1160, 1412, 1413, 1414, 1420, 1422, 1427, 1428, 1431, 1433, 1455, 1463 and 1530 are included under the topic Early Kimes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kimes Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Kimes, Kymes, Kyme, Kime and others.

Early Notables of the Kimes family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Gilbert Kymer (died 1463), an early English educator and physician, Dean of Salisbury, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. was educated at Durham College, on the site of which the present Trinity College stands. He graduated as master of arts and philosophy, bachelor of laws, and doctor of medicine previously to 1420 (Tanner). In 1412-1413 he served the office of proctor, and from 1412 to 1414 was principal of Hart Hall. On 16 Dec. 1420, being still a layman, he was presented to the living of Lutterworth, Leicestershire, by William, lord Ferrers...
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kimes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kimes Ranking

In the United States, the name Kimes is the 7,323rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [4]

Migration of the Kimes family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Kimes or a variant listed above were: John Kymes who landed in North America in 1792.


Contemporary Notables of the name Kimes (post 1700) +

  • Royal Wade Kimes (b. 1951), American country music singer


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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