Surname Limmings - Meaning and Origin
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Limmings: What does the surname Limmings mean?
The last name Limmings is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to be derived from the Old English pre 7th century personal name “Limma”, which is composed of the elements “lim”, meaning a meadow, and “ing”, denoting a people. Thus it is thought to be a locational surname referring to a meadow-dweller.
It is likely that the name developed first as Liming, before being split to the dialectal variant Lymming and then Limming, the form most commonly encountered. Further development of the name includes Limington, Limning, Lummings and other variations.
Early records of the name mention Robert Liming in Kent in 1279, and Roger Lymynges in Wiltshire in 1292. Subsequent records of the name mention Margeret Liming, christened at All Hallows, London Wall, London in 1587, and Thomas Golem as christened in St. Martins-in-the-Field, Westminster in 1667.
The mention of the name in the records indicates that it was probably well established in the Middle Ages, and it continues to be quite commonly found in England and Wales today.
Order DNA origin analysisLimmings: Where does the name Limmings come from?
The last name Limmings is an uncommon family name around the world. Today, Limmings are primarily found in the United States, where it ranks 5,931st in terms of popularity. It is estimated that there are fewer than 14,000 Limmings in the United States.
Outside of the US, Limmings are often concentrated in their home countries of England and Scotland. Limmings are still found in these two countries, primarily in Scotland, where it is the 2,103rd most common surname. The English name is slightly more rare, ranking 24,516th in England and Wales.
Lesser numbers of Limmings live in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, each with its own distinct version of the name (Leming, Lammings, and Lummings, respectively). Due to the lack of records kept by these countries, it is difficult to gauge the exact number of Limmings living in each one.
Finally, small numbers of Limmings appear to be living in Germany, Ireland, and South Africa. With the modern era of international travel and migration, it is likely that the Limmings name is now much more widespread throughout the world than it was even just a few decades ago.
Variations of the surname Limmings
The surname Limmings is a variation of the spelling and surname of Lemings. It is derived from the Middle English/Old French word "lom" meaning "light" or "sword", and the Old English word "ing", meaning "connected with" or denoting the people associated with. The spelling Lemyngs is also a variation of the same surname, and is recorded early in the 13th century. The surname Limmings was first found in the counties of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire.
The other spellings and surnames of the same origin of Limmings include Lemyng, Lemingis, Lemingus, Leemings, Lemins, Lemings, Leminggis, Lemmys, Limens, Lewemings, Limni and Limny.
The earliest records of the Lemings found in the First Series of the Calendar of Patent Rolls in the British Isles date back to the year 1220. The name is recorded often throughout the 13th century and by the 16th century, the name was found in many parts of the United Kingdom, including London, Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Cheshire, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire, and Norfolk.
In Scotland, the surname Limmings is most commonly found in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. This branch of the family name is recorded as Lemung, Lemingg, Liming, Limming and Lemingis in the earliest known records.
The surname Limmings is also commonly found in Ireland, particularly County Mayo, where it is sometimes recorded as Leming, Lemingis, Limming, Limning, Lewemings, and Limni. This branch of the surname is first found in records dating from the early 13th century.
Today, the Limmings surname continues to be found in many different forms in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is most frequently found recorded in the counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire in England, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire in Scotland, and County Mayo in Ireland.
Famous people with the name Limmings
- Matthew Limmings, former English footballer who retired from professional football in 1996.
- Carla Limmings, award-winning British photographer and artist.
- Chloe Limmings, American journalist and news anchor.
- Jack Limmings, Australian actor and TV presenter.
- Sarah Limmings, British author and screenwriter.
- Michael Limmings, English composer and music producer.
- John Limmings, Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist.
- Patrick Limmings, American Olympic athlete and track star.
- Pete Limmings, British fashion designer and entrepreneur.
- Lewis Limmings, British-USB singer and musician.