Colmer

Origin and Meaning Colmer is a surname of English origin, believed to have derived from the Old English word "col," meaning 'dark' or 'black', and "mere," meaning 'lake' or 'pond'. This suggests that the surname may have initially been used to describe someone living near a dark body of water.

Distribution The Colmer surname is primarily found in the south-west of England, with a particular concentration in the counties of Devon and Cornwall. Over time, bearers of the name may have migrated to other regions within the UK and beyond.

Notable Individuals

  • Sir Mark Colmer (b. 1950) – A distinguished British diplomat known for his service in various countries around the world.
  • Emma Colmer (b. 1985) – An accomplished British artist known for her innovative use of mixed media in her installations.

Coat of Arms The Colmer family crest typically features symbols associated with water, such as waves or fish. The use of dark colours, reflecting the meaning of the name, is also common in the design of the coat of arms.

Trivia In the early records, the spelling of the surname may vary, with examples including Culmer, Colimer, and Colmar. This variability in spelling can be attributed to the lack of standardized spelling rules in centuries past.

There are approximately 686 people named Colmer in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,844th most common surname in Britain. Around 11 in a million people in Britain are named Colmer.

Surname type: Occupational name

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Anthony
  • David
  • John
  • Mark
  • Michael
  • Paul
  • Peter
  • Robert
  • Simon
  • Stephen
  • Thomas

Female

  • Anna
  • Anne
  • Christine
  • Dorothy
  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Gillian
  • Karen
  • Ruth
  • Sarah
  • Susan
  • Victoria

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

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