Show ContentsLorrimer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Lorrimer Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Lorrimer

What does the name Lorrimer mean?

The many generations and branches of the Lorrimer family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a person who worked as a lorimer which is an Old French word used to refer to those individuals who made stirrup irons, spurs and other metal articles that people used with horses.

As an occupational name, records of the name are widespread and in early records more often than not, the name was seen in its Lation form as by example, the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae listed Robert and John Lauremarius, Normandy 1180-1195. 1

However one source notes that the name could have been derived from "Goscelinus Loremarius, one of the Conqueror's tenants in chief, mentioned in Domesday [Book], co. Essex. " 2

Early Origins of the Lorrimer family

The surname Lorrimer was first found in Essex where the aforementioned Goscelinus Loremarius was listed shortly after the Conquest.

The use of the early Latin spelling was widespread as in Scotland, "Hugh Lorimarius and his heirs had a grant of lands near Perth from William the Lion (reign 1165-1214) for services performed by him. Matthew Lorimer, a descendant of Hugh, sold the lands to William de Len, burgess of Perth, by whom they were gifted to the Abbey of Scone in the reign of Alexander II. " 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Adam le Lorimer, Salop (Shropshire); Richard le Lorimer, Essex; Thomas Lormar, Essex; and William Lorinar, Oxfordshire. 4

Gervase Lorimarius, or Sadler, was Bailiff of Norwich in 1239. 5

Early History of the Lorrimer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lorrimer research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1643, 1677, 1702, 1706, 1712, 1779 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lorrimer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lorrimer Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Lorrimer were recorded, including Lorimer, Lorrimer, Lorrimore, Lorriman, Lorrimoor, Lorrimar, Larimore and many more.

Early Notables of the Lorrimer family

Thomas Larimore, (1677-1706) also Laramore, Larrimore, Laremore, Laremoor, American privateer and pirate active in the Caribbean and off the eastern seaboard of the American colonies. He was instrumental in helping suppress Bacon's Rebellion under Governor William...
Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Lorrimer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Lorrimer family to Ireland

Some of the Lorrimer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lorrimer 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:

Lorrimer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. W. Lorrimer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gananoque" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 9th May 1860 6
  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html

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