RIMMER
Rimmer is a surname of English origin, and its use is largely confined to the British Isles.
The earliest known derivation links the name to the Old English word rima, meaning "edge" or "rim". The surname was originally given to a person who lived or worked near the edge of a river or another body of water, or who occupied a position at the rim of a hill, valley or other geographical feature. In this sense, it functioned as an occupational name identifying a geographical neighbour of a natural boundary.
Another, linguisticly distinct origin records the name as coming from the early French word rimour or rymour, meaning "one who writes rhymes". The term was introduced into the English lexicon following the Norman Conquest of 1066, and early bearers of the name are believed to have operated as poets or minstrels. These individuals were typically employed in royal or noble households to instruct song and dance, and later a broader public role developed as members of medieval travelling theatres or as proto-newsgatherers passing from village to village.
Spelling variations of the surname include Rimer, Rymer and Rymmer, among others. The orthographic diversity of the name reflects the evolution of English spelling over the centuries.
The first epigraphic evidence for the surname appears in the 13th century, in a record of Warin Rymer dated 1229 in the Calendar of the Patent Rolls for Yorkshire. During the reign of King Henry I, the name was noted in that document, indicating an established family lineage. An additional historical reference occurs with Richard le Rimour, recorded in the Coucher Book of Whalley Abbey in Lancashire in 1377. Parish registers of London contain the entries of Alexander Rymmer, who married Margaret Galleth on 26 July 1585 at St. Dunstan's in the East, Stepney, and of Elizabeth Rimer, christened on 2 December 1639 at the same church.
Among the more recent and distinguished bearers of the surname is Alfred Rimmer (1829–1893), an artist and author noted for a number of illustrated works on English topography. His contributions are listed in the Dictionary of National Biography.
Typical given names associated with the Rimmer surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Angela
- Catherine
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Janet
- Joanne
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Rahmer
- Raimer
- Ramaer
- Ramar
- Ramarao
- Ramer
- Ramier
- Ramiro
- Rammer
- Raumer
- Raymer
- Raymor
- Raymore
- Reamer
- Reemer
- Reimer
- Reimmer
- Remer
- Remero
- Remmer
- Reymer
- Rhymer
- Riemer
- Rimer
- Rimeur
- Rimmel
- Rimmers
- Rimmes
- Rimner
- Rinmer
- Roemer
- Rohmer
- Romeiro
- Romer
- Romera
- Romero
- Romieri
- Rommer
- Rumaur
- Rumer
- Rumier
- Rummer
- Rumore
- Rymar
- Rymer
- Rymers
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Rimmer in...
Braille
⠗⠊⠍⠍⠑⠗
Morse
.-...----..-.
Semaphore
There are approximately 11,135 people named Rimmer in the UK. That makes it the 825th most common surname in Britain. Around 171 in a million people in Britain are named Rimmer.
Surname type: Occupational name
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Rimmer
- Simon Rimmer - Chef
- Jimmy Rimmer - Football player and manager
- Marie Rimmer - Politician
- Shane Rimmer - Canadian actor (1929 to 2019)
- Stuart Rimmer - Football player
- Michael Rimmer - Athlete
- John Rimmer - Athlete (1878 to 1962)
- Steve Rimmer - Football player
- Warwick Rimmer - Football player and manager
- William Rimmer - American artist (1816 to 1879)
- Jackie Rimmer - Football player (1910 to 1989)
- Neill Rimmer - Football player
- Joseph Rimmer - Cricketer (1925 to 2011)
- Carl Rimmer - Rugby union player
- Gordon Rimmer - Rugby union player (1925 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.