Primus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The proud Norman name of Primus was developed in England soon after Norman Conquest of England in 1066. It was name for a slender or a small man having derived from the Old French word prim, meaning delicate. 1 2 3

However, another source claims that while the name is Norman, it is derived from the "Latin primus-first, best, chief, as in the old French phrase, 'Le prime de Chevaliers,' defined by Cotgrave as 'a prime Knight, the flower of Knights.' The French surname De la Pryme has, however, the appearance of a local origin." 4

Early Origins of the Primus family

The surname Primus was first found in Lincolnshire where William Prime was recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1279. A few years later, Ralph Prime was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 3 In Sussex they acquired the manor of Walberton House.

Early History of the Primus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Primus research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1550, 1596, 1628, 1629, 1671, 1701 and 1704 are included under the topic Early Primus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Primus Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Primus have been found, including Pryme, Prime and others.

Early Notables of the Primus family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Prime (1550-1596), English divine, son of Robert Prime, a butcher of Oxford, born in the parish of Holywell.Abraham de la Pryme (1671-1704), was an Presbyterian minister and English antiquary and descendant of a Huguenot family which migrated from Ypres in Flanders in 1628-1629, and lost much money in draining the great fens in the levels of Hatfield...
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Primus Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Primus Ranking

In the United States, the name Primus is the 15,078^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Primus migration to Canada +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Primus were among those contributors:

Primus Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Primus, who landed in Canada in 1834

Contemporary Notables of the name Primus (post 1700) +

Brent James Primus (b. 1994), American Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts Award winning producer
Pearl Primus (1919-1994), American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist, awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1991
Barry Primus (b. 1938), American television and film actor, known for American Hustle (2013), New York, New York (1977) and Righteous Kill (2008)
Linvoy Stephen Primus MBE (b. 1973), English former footballer who played 433 matches from 1992 to 2008

The Primus Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil invita minerva
Motto Translation: Nothing contrary to one’s genius.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/