The name Seamer reached
England in the great wave of migration following the
Norman Conquest of 1066. The Seamer family lived in
Monmouthshire. Their name, however, is a reference to
St. Maur, near Avranches,
Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the
Norman Conquest of
England in 1066.
Early Origins of the Seamer family
The surname Seamer was first found in
Monmouthshire. However, records differ on who was the progenitor of the family. One reference claims that Wido de St. Maur came to
England in 1066 but was deceased before 1086 and would have therefore not appeared in the
Domesday Book. His son William Fits-Wido held a barony in
Somerset,
Wiltshire and Gloucester and ten manors in
Somerset.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) "A Gilbertine priory, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was founded [in Poulton, Gloucestershire] about 1347, by Sir Thomas de Sancto Mauro, or Seymor." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Another reference claims they were descended from Roger Sancto Maure who lived during the reign of Henry I and was Lord of Seymour Castle. [3]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Early History of the Seamer family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Seamer research.
Another 221 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1458, 1508, 1537, 1474, 1536, 1547, 1549, 1528, 1593, 1563, 1613, 1599, 1674, 1663, 1646, 1648, 1632, 1708 and are included under the topic Early Seamer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Seamer Spelling Variations
Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime.
Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Seamer family name include St. Maur, Seymour, Seymer, Seymar, Seamor, Seamour, Seemour and many more.
Early Notables of the Seamer family (pre 1700)
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Seymor,
High Sheriff of
Herefordshire in 1458; Jane Seymour (1508-1537), Queen consort of
England as the third wife of King Henry VIII; Sir John Seymour, of
Wiltshire, KB (c.1474-1536), English gentry, courtier to King Henry VIII, father of the king's wife Jane...
Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Seamer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Seamer family to Ireland
Some of the Seamer family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 127 words (9 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 Seamer family to the New World and Oceana
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Seamer family to immigrate North America:
Seamer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Francis Seamer, who landed in Virginia in 1637 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - Owen Seamer, who arrived in Virginia in 1639 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - Richard Seamer, who landed in Hartford, Connecticut in 1639 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
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) - Thomas Seamer, who arrived in Maryland in 1655 [4]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Seamer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Alfred Seamer, aged 27, a wheelwright, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
- Jane Seamer, aged 30, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
- Mary A. Seamer, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
- Kate Seamer, aged 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
The Seamer 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: Foy pour devoir
Motto Translation: Faith for duty.