Letmore History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Wales
Ireland

Within the rugged landscape of Moors and hills called Wales the ancient name Letmore 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 Letmore family

The surname Letmore 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 Letmore family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Letmore 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 Letmore History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Letmore 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 Letmore has occasionally been spelled Latimer, Latimor, Lattimer, Lattimor, Lattimore and many more.

Early Notables of the Letmore 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...
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Letmore Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Letmore family to Ireland

Some of the Letmore 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.

Migration of the Letmore family

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 Letmore: Andrew Latimer arrived in Virginia in 1774; Francise Latimore settled in Nevis in 1654; James, John, Robet and Daniel Latimore all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860..

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.