Surname Plimmer - Meaning and Origin
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Plimmer: What does the surname Plimmer mean?
The last name Plimmer is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is largely found in the United Kingdom. It is derived from the Old English term "plume," which refers to a feather. This could indicate that the originators of the name may have been involved in trades related to feathers, such as fletching (the making of arrows) or perhaps they traded in feathers themselves. Surnames during this time period often reflected peoples' occupations or physical characteristics. Another interpretation could be that the name Plimmer was assigned to someone who was considered light-hearted or "as light as a feather." However, the exact historical meaning of the name Plimmer may be lost to time. Like many surnames, over centuries and generations, the Plimmer family spread and now can be found worldwide. Despite the variety of geographical locations, all Plimmers are likely connected to a common ancestor from many centuries ago.
Order DNA origin analysisPlimmer: Where does the name Plimmer come from?
The last name Plimmer is most commonly found in countries of British ancestry. In particular, it is seen in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, it is most common among those living in the northeast and the states bordering the Great Lakes.
Surname data from the Realitychangers’ Surname Atlas indicates that Plimmer is most prevalent in the United Kingdom. In the U.S., its highest concentrations occur in Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut, all of which have strong connections to England and Ireland.
Other countries with a significant presence of Plimmer families include South Africa, India, the Netherlands, Germany, and France. In Australia, the surname has its highest frequency in New South Wales.
The Plimmer surname is likely derived from a personal name that has since gone out of fashion. It is believed to be an Anglicized version of the Norman de Plemere, similar to other surnames of French origin like Lever and Barker. Research in ancestry records such as birth, marriage, or census documents, could provide more information regarding the origin and migration of the Plimmer surname.
Variations of the surname Plimmer
The surname Plimmer is derived from the Old English word “plume” which means “ feather” or “down”. As such, variants of the surname Plimmer include: Plum(m)er, Plumer, Plumerie (also spelled Plumerie and Plumerie) and Plum(m)ery.
The surname Plimmer is also still found in the United States and United Kingdom today, and the different spellings can often be utilized to differentiate between the two locations of origin.
In Ireland, the Plimmer name can also be found as Plumer, Plumerie and Plumery. The Irish genealogy database has shown several records of families using this name, including at least one spelling as Plommier.
In Scotland, the surname Plimmer can be seen as an Anglicised form of the Gaelic surname “MacGill-Eamoinn” which means “son of the servant of St. John”. Variations of this name include: MacGill-Eamainn, Mcgeamain, Gilleamain and Gilleamuinn.
In Germany, surnames derived from Plimmer include Plumm, Plum, Plumb, Plumbaum, Plume, Plumer, Plumacher, Plumerke and Plumerling.
In France, the name Plimmer is recorded as Plume, Plumie, Plumer, Plumerie, Plumb, Plumel and Plombe. Other variations of the name recorded in France include Laplume, Laplumerie and Laplumier.
In England, the name Plimmer is commonly seen as Plumer, Plumerie and Plumery. There are also families found who use the spelling Plumerick, Ploemer and Pleumer.
The Plimmer surname is also found in many countries throughout the world, and has many national and ethnic origins. With variants across the globe including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France and England, the name Plimmer is an internationally recognized surname.
Famous people with the name Plimmer
- Antony Plimmer: British writer and editor, known for his work in leadership development and responsible business for over 25 years
- David Plimmer: British actor and production manager
- Frank Plimmer: Canadian doctor and medical ethicist
- Graham Plimmer: English world-renowned sculptor and glass artist
- John Plimmer: English civil engineer who constructed the world's first suspension bridge
- Lizzie Plimmer: English television presenter and actress
- Robert Plimmer: British-Australian physicist who developed several theories and models concerning earthquake faults
- Simon Plimmer: British-American entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Stephen Plimmer: English actor, musician, and television presenter
- Thomas Plimmer: English soldier who fought in the Boer War and the First World War
- William Plimmer: Canadian politician from New Brunswick