Contents [hide]

Latimer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Latimer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

Within the rugged landscape of Moors and hills called Wales the ancient name Latimer was developed. At one time this surname was the profession for someone who was "a speaker of Latin, that being the vehicle of all record or transcript. Latin for centuries was the common ground on which all European ecclesiastics met. Thus it became looked upon as the language of interpretation." 1

"This surname is said to have been adopted from the tenure of certain lands, which required the possessor thereof to act as "latimer," or interpreter. In English history it occupies a prominent place, and has been borne at various times by the most distinguished warriors." 2

Early Origins of the Latimer family

The surname Latimer was first found in Breconshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), a traditional county in southern Wales, which takes its name from the Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog (5th-10th centuries.)

Four barons are mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086: "David interpres, who held Dorset; Hugo latinarius who held Hants and Somerset; Ralph Latimarus, who held Essex; and Lewis Latinarius, who held Herefordshire. Ralph was Secretary to the Conqueror and from him derived William de Latimer, who in 1165 held a knight's fee of Vesci in Yorkshire." 1

"In the reign of Henry III. flourished William de Latimer, a crusader under Prince Edward, and a gallant soldier in the French wars; and under Edward III., William, Lord Latimer, his great grandson, a warrior of great renown, celebrated for a victory achieved over Charles of Blois, at the siege of Doveroy, where, with only 1600 men, English and Bretons, he encountered that Prince, who had come to the relief of the place at the head of 3,600 men; and defeated and slew him, besides nearly a thousand knights and esquires; taking prisoners also, two earls, twenty-seven lords, and fifteen hundred men-at-arms." 2

Latimer, a village and civil parish in Buckinghamshire is often mistakenly understood to be the family's origin, but this village dates back to 1220 when it was listed as Yselhamstede and Isenhamstede, and by 1389, it was listed as Laytmer. However, the Laytmer family resided there by the 14th century. 3

Glaisdale in the North Riding of Yorkshire "was the property of Robert de Brus, lord of Skelton, and, with the rest of the parish of Danby, descended to the Thwengs, and afterwards to the Latimers, lords of Danby; it is now divided into many freeholds." 4 William Latimer was gifted Iselhempstead Latimer in Buckinghamshire from the estate of Simon Beresford.

Early History of the Latimer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Latimer research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1380, 1467, 1487, 1545, 1555 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Latimer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Latimer Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Latimer has occasionally been spelled Latimer, Latimor, Lattimer, Lattimor, Lattimore and many more.

Early Notables of the Latimer family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Hugh Latimer (c.1487-1555) English Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge and Bishop of Worcester before the Reformation, later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI, burnt at the stake, becoming o...

Latimer Ranking

In the United States, the name Latimer is the 3,708^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Latimer family to Ireland

Some of the Latimer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Latimer migration to the United States +

The Welsh migration to North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries contributed greatly to its rapid development. These migrants were in search of land, work, and freedom. Those Welsh families that survived the long ocean journey were critical to the development of new industries and factories, and to the quick settlement of land. They also added to an ever-growing rich cultural heritage. A search of the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Latimer:

Latimer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Latimer, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 6
Andrew Latimer, who arrived in Virginia in 1774

Latimer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

C H Latimer, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
B G Latimer, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
J Latimer, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 6
Jorge Latimer, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1860 6
John Latimer, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1873 6

Latimer migration to Australia +

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

Latimer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Latimer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Moffatt" in 1839 7
Eliza Latimer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Moffatt" in 1839 7
Sarah Latimer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Moffatt" in 1839 7
Francis Latimer, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Empire" in 1850 8
Francis Latimer, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "British Empire" 8

Latimer 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:

Latimer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Latimer, aged 23, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ballochmyle" in 1874
Mary Ann Latimer, aged 36, a laundress, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Apelles" in 1878

Contemporary Notables of the name Latimer (post 1700) +

Lewis Latimer (1848-1928), American inventor
Joseph White "The Boy Major" Latimer (1843-1863), American officer in the Confederate Army, mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg
Dr. Henry Latimer (1752-1819), American physician and politician
George Latimer (1750-1825), American merchant and politician, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House 1794–1798
George Latimer (1935-1976), American politician, Mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota (1976 to 1990)
Don Latimer (b. 1955), American NFL football player
Jonathan Latimer (1906-1983), U.S. crime writer
Jon Latimer (1964-2009), Welsh historian and writer
Henry Latimer (1938-2005), the first African-American circuit court judge in Broward County,
Hugh Latimer (1485-1555), English prelate who refused to recant his Protestantism after the accession of Mary I, a Catholic, and was executed for heresy

Historic Events for the Latimer family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Walter S Latimer (b. 1920), Scottish Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 9

Mount Mulligan Mine

Francis Latimer, Australian coal miner who was killed in the Mount Mulligan Mine explosion in 1921

RMS Titanic

Mr. Andrew L. Latimer (d. 1912), aged 55, English Chief First Class Steward from Liverpool, Lancashire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 10

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MOFFATT 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Moffatt.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITISH EMPIRE 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850BritishEmpire.htm
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html