Origin
Mere : English: variant of Mear.
Amner : 1: from Anmer (Norfolk) which is recorded as Anemere in 1086 and Anedemere in 1291. The place-name derives from Old English æned ‘duck’ + mere ‘pond pool’. 2: possibly a variant of Aumonier.
Ashmore : English (North and West Midlands): habitational name from any of several minor places generally named from Old English æsc ‘ash’ + mōr ‘moor high tract of barren ground marsh’. In the case of Ashmore in Dorset however the early forms show that the second element is Old English mere ‘lake’. This surname is also common in Ireland.
Attmere : from Middle English atte mere ‘(dweller) at the pond lake or pool’ (Old English æt þǣm mere).from Middle English atte meare ‘(dweller) at the boundary' (Old English æt þǣm (ge)mǣre).
Blackmer : English:: 1: from the Middle English personal name Blakmer (Old English Blæcmǣr from blæc ‘black’ + mǣre ‘famous’).2: habitational name from one or more of the many places called Blackmore Blackmoor or Blakemere such as Blackmore End in Kimpton (Hertfordshire) Blakemere (Herefordshire) and Blackmoor (Hampshire) which are named with either Old English blæc ‘black dark’ + Old English mōr ‘moor marshy ground’ or mere ‘mere lake’.3: variant of Blackmore.
Blackmore : English:: 1: habitational name from any of various places so named with Old English blæc ‘black dark’ + mōr ‘moor marsh’ or mere ‘lake’. Mōr is the second element of places called Blackmore in Essex Wiltshire and Worcestershire as well as Blackmoor in Dorset; mere on the other hand is the second element of Blackmore in Hertfordshire and Blackmoor in Hampshire the early forms of which are Blachemere Blakemere.2: from Middle English blak blakke ‘black’ + Mor ‘Moor’ signifying someone with a dark complexion.
Breadmore : from Middle English brod brad ‘broad wide’ (Old English brād) + mere ‘mere lake pool’ (Old English mere) or mor ‘moor wasteland marsh’ (Old English mōr). The name may be topographic for one who lived by a large lake or moor or toponymic from a place so named such as Bradmore (Notts) a lost Bradmore in Honington (Warwicks) Bradmore in Penn (Staffs) or Broadmoor in Wotton (Surrey).
Bulmer : English (Yorkshire and Durham): habitational name from either of two places called Bulmer in the North Yorkshire and Essex or from Boulmer in Northumberland. The Yorkshire place recorded in Domesday Book as Bolemere is named in Old English with bula ‘bull’ + mere ‘lake’ as is Boulmer; the Essex placename found in early records as Bulenemera is from bulena (genitive plural of bula) + mere ‘lake’.
Buttermore : 1: Americanized form of German Bodamer.2: Altered form of Irish Buttimer.3: In some cases possibly also English: habitational name from either of two places in Cumbria and Wiltshire named Buttermere from Old English butere ‘butter’ + mere ‘lake’. The surname however is virtually non-existing in Britain.
Cashmore : English: probably a habitational name from Cashmoor in Dorset which is probably named with Old English cærse ‘cress’ + mōr ‘fen marsh’ or mere ‘pool’.
Colmer : 1: English (southwestern): habitational name from one of more of the numerous places with this or a similar name such as Colmer in North Huish (Devon) Colemore (Hampshire) and Colmer Farm in Marshwood (Dorset) from Old English cōl ‘cool’ + mere ‘pool pond’.2: Altered form of German Kollmer a habitational name from Colmar in Alsace (formerly written Kolmar) or perhaps of Gollmer.
Cranmer : English: habitational name from Cranmer Green in Walsham le Willows (Suffolk) and perhaps also from other places similarly named such as Cranmer Hall in Sculthorpe (Norfolk) Cranmore in Shalfleet (Isle of Wight) Cranmer Bottom in Selborne and Cranmore in Aldershot (both Hampshire) and East and West Cranmore (Somerset) all named from Old English cran ‘crane’ + mere ‘lake pool’ or mōr ‘moor marshy ground’. See also Cranmore with which there may have been some confusion.
Delamar : 1: Scottish (of Norman origin): habitational name from any of numerous places in Normandy Brittany and Maine in France named La Mare (‘the pool’) preceded by the French preposition de ‘of’. Introduced by the Normans the name was later augmented by Huguenot bearers fleeing religious persecution in France and the Low Countries in the 16th century.2: English: possibly a habitational name from Delamere Forest (Cheshire) recorded as foresta de Mara in 1153–60. The name meant ‘(Forest) of the Pool’ (from Anglo-Norman French de la ‘from the’ + Middle English mere ‘pond’ or more ‘marsh moor’) alluding to either Blakemere or Oakmere near Eddisbury and its modern form is attributable to the continuity of the Anglo-French naming practices in written records. However there is no clear evidence of a derived surname from the forest.
Delamere : variant of Mear prefixed with Anglo-Norman French de la referring to one of the English places called Mere (Cheshire Lincs Wilts) Meir (in Caverswall Staffs) or Meare (Somerset). It was a gentry surname.doubtfully perhaps from Delamere Forest (Cheshire) recorded as foresta de Mara in 1153-60 Delamere in 1308 Dalamere in 1517 and Dallamore in 1690. The name meant ‘(Forest) of the Pool’ alluding to either Blakemere or Oakmere near Eddisbury but there is no clear evidence of a surname derived from it.from any of the numerous places in Normandy Brittany and Maine named La Mare (‘the pool’) preceded by the French preposition de ‘of’. This surname is well evidenced among the upper classes in late 11th- to 14th-century England but can be difficult to distinguish from the name in (i). The original form of the name is preserved in Delamare or De la Mare common in the Channel Islands and as a Huguenot family name.
Demery : 1: Altered form of Demaree a surname of French origin or ultimately perhaps of some other similar (like-sounding) surname. The surname Demery which is most common among African Americans may alternatively be of English origin (see 2 and 3 below). Compare Demory 1.2: English (of French Huguenot origin): probably an Anglicized form of French Deméré De Méré a habitational name with fused preposition de ‘from’ denoting someone from any of several places called Méré (in Indre-et-Loire Yvelines and Yonne).3: English (of Norman origin): variant of Damery 2.
Duley : 1: English (of Norman origin): variant of Olley a habitational name with fused Old French preposition d'. Compare Dolley. Alternatively a variant of Dilley and perhaps occasionally a variant of Ulley (see Hulley) with fused Old French preposition. Early forms of the name have the appearance of a topographic name from Old French du ‘of the’ + Middle English le(y) ‘woodland clearing pasture meadow’ but this is an unlikely linguistic combination given that topographic names are typical of the lower classes of society who would not speak French.2: English (of Norman origin): perhaps from Anglo-Norman French du lai ‘(man) of the law’ (Old French lei loi Anglo-Norman French lai) but a Huntingdonshire family so named belonged to the upper gentry so it seems an unlikely origin. An alternative derivation from Anglo-Norman French lai a variant of Old French lac ‘lake’ is formally possible and might refer to one of the lakes in Huntingdonshire such as Whittlesey Mere but evidence is lacking for Anglo-Norman French naming of these features and it is not easy to see why an Anglo-Norman family might be named after one of them. This surname may not have survived into modern times. The du Lay family's principal holding was in Great Paxton (Huntingdonshire) held of the Honour of Huntingdon.3: English: perhaps a nickname from Middle English duely duly douly ‘lawful rightful’ although the circumstances in which this word might have been used as a name are not obvious.4: Scottish: perhaps a habitational name from Dowally (Perthshire) which is now part of Dunkeld. The placename derives from Scottish Gaelic dubh bhaile ‘dark black village’.5: Irish: variant of Dullea.
Dummer : 1: German: nickname meaning ‘the foolish one’ from a noun derivative of Middle High German tump ‘simple’ (see Dumm).2: German (Dümmer): perhaps a topographic name from a lake near Oldenburg in Lower Saxony.3: English: habitational name usually from Dummer in Hampshire Old English dūn ‘hill’ + mere ‘pond or lake’ or occasionally perhaps from Dimmer near Castle Cary in Somerset recorded in 1241 as Dunmere. The villages of Pendomer and Chilthorne Domer in Somerset are so named because their manors were held by members of the Dummer family in the medieval period.
Elmer : 1: English: variant of Elmore.2: English: habitational name from Elmer in Middleton (Sussex) probably named with Old English ǣl ‘eel’ + mere ‘pool’.3: German: topographic name for someone living near elm trees from Middle High German elm ‘elm tree’.4: Swiss German: habitational name from a village so named in Glarus canton.5: North German: from an ancient Germanic personal name composed of agil ‘point edge (of a sword)’ + mar ‘well known famous’.
Elsmore : English (Staffordshire): habitational name from Ellesmere (Shropshire) from the Old English personal name Elli + Old English mere ‘lake pool’.
Finnemore : English:: 1: from Old French fin ‘fine splendid’ + amour ‘love’. This surname is also found in Ireland Gaelicized as Fionamúr recorded in Leinster as early as the 13th century.2: habitational name from Finmere Oxfordshire (from Old English fīna ‘wood-pecker’ + mere ‘pool lake’ meaning ‘pool frequented by wood-peckers’) or Fenemere (also known as Fennymere) in Baschurch Shropshire (derived from Old English fyne ‘mould’ + mere ‘pool lake’ meaning ‘mouldy lake’). Perhaps also from one or more of the following places in Buckinghamshire: Finemere Wood in Quainton Fenemore's Farm in Oakley and Finnamore Farm in Ibstone.
Fulmer : 1: English: habitational name from Fulmer in Buckinghamshire or Fowlmere in Cambridgeshire so named from Old English fugol ‘bird’ + mere ‘lake’.2: Americanized form of German Vollmer and Follmer. Compare Folmer and Fullmer.
Hanmer : 1: Welsh: habitational name from Hanmer (Flintshire) named with the Old English personal name Hagena + Old English mere ‘lake pond’. A daughter of Sir David Hanmer a Welsh judge in the 14th century was married to the Welsh ruler Owen Glendower who led the revolt against Henry IV's rule in Wales.2: English: habitational name from Anmer (Norfolk) from Old English æned ‘duck’ + mere ‘lake pond’.
Harmer : English:: 1: from the Middle English personal name Hermer a borrowing of Old French Her(e)mer an ancient Germanic name composed of hari heri ‘army’ + māri mēri ‘famous’.2: habitational name from Haremere Hall in Etchingham (Sussex) which may derive from Old English hār ‘gray; boundary’ + mere ‘pool’.
Hasemore : 1: perhaps a variant of Ashmore with prosthetic H-. Compare William Asmore 1779 in IGI (Maidstone Kent). 2: perhaps also from Haselmere (Surrey) but this surname may not have survived beyond the medieval period. The place-name derives from Old English hæsel ‘hazel’ + mere ‘pool’.
Hindmoor : apparently from Old English hind ‘hind female (red) deer’ or (bi)hindan ‘behind beyond’ + mōr ‘moor’ or perhaps mere ‘pool’. No such place-name has been identified and it may instead be a description of the first bearer's home.
Homer : 1: English: topographic name for a dweller by a holly bush from Middle English holm (Old English holen) + the agent suffix -er a type of formation characteristic of Hampshire and Sussex. See Holm 2.2: English: habitational name from Holmer (Herefordshire) Holmer Green (Buckinghamshire) or Homer (Devon) or else from other unrecorded placenames formed with Middle English hol(g)h + mere ‘pool by or in the hollow’ (Old English holh + mere).3: American shortened and altered form of Greek Omiros or one of its patronymic derivatives (Omirou which is found mainly in Cyprus Omiridis etc.). This was not only the name of the classical Greek epic poet (classical Greek Homēros) but was also borne by a Christian martyr venerated in the Greek Orthodox Church.4: Slovenian: variant of Homar and in North America probably also an altered form of this.
Imber : 1: English: habitational name from Imber (Wiltshire). The placename probably derives from the Old English personal name Imma + Old English mere ‘pool’.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): variant of Ingber from Yiddish imber ‘ginger’.3: German: nickname for an industrious person or metonymic occupational name for a beekeeper from Middle High German imbe imme ' (honey) bee’.
Ingmire : 1: English (Kent and London): habitational name from Inglemire in Kingston upon Hull (East Yorkshire) also sometimes known as Igglemire. The placename is probably from Old Norse igli ‘leech’ + marr ‘marsh’ or Old English mere ‘pool’. This surname is now rare in Britain.2: Perhaps an Americanized form of German Engemeyer a topographic name for a tenant farmer who lived in a narrow place i.e. a deep narrow valley from eng ‘narrow’ (see Enge) + Meyer ‘tenant farmer’.
Iredale : English: habitational name apparently from an unidentified locality in Westmorland or Cumberland called Iredale (Old Norse Íradalr ‘valley of the Irish’). The earliest record of the surname (1597) occurs in Crosthwaite near Kendal (Westmorland) through which Arndale Beck runs. The beck name may be a mere corruption of Iredale but it is recorded so late (1857) that it is impossible to judge. This surname is also found in Cumberland from the 1630s between Keswick and Cockermouth particularly in Lorton and Loweswater where Iredale Place in Waterend Loweswater is named after the family.
Livermore : English: probably a habitational name from Livermere in Suffolk. This is first found in the form Leuuremer (c. 1050) which suggests derivation from Old English lǣfer ‘rush reed’ + mere ‘lake’. However later forms consistently show i in the first syllable suggesting Old English lifer ‘liver’ referring either to the shape of the pond or to the coagulation of the water.
Lomer : from Middle English *lomer ‘loam-digger’ from lom ‘loam’ (Old English lām) + the agent suffix -er(e).from one of the places called Lomer named with Old English lām ‘loam’ + mere ‘pond’ e.g. Lomer Farm in Exton (Hants) near the site of a deserted medieval village of the same name and Lomer Farm in Meopham (Kent).
Longmore : English: habitational name from Longmorehill Farm in Astley Worcestershire. The placename derives from Old English lang ‘long’ + mere ‘pool’.
Marbeck : from Mearbeck in Settle (WR Yorks) Meer Beck in Low Abbotside (NR Yorks) or Mere Beck in Cotherstone (NR Yorks). The place-names derive from Old English (ge)mǣre ‘boundary border’ + Old Scandinavian bekkr ‘stream beck’.
Marbury : English:: 1: habitational name from Marbury in Great Budworth or perhaps from Marbury cum Quoisley (both in Cheshire). Both placenames derive from Old English mere ‘pool lake’ + burh ‘fortress’ (dative byrig) ‘stronghold by the lake’.2: variant of Marbrow itself a variant of Marlborough a habitational name from Marlborough (Wiltshire) which probably derives from an Old English personal name Mǣrla + Old English beorg ‘hill mound’.
Marfleet : from Marfleet in Kingston upon Hull (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Mereflet in 1086. The place-name derives from Old English mere ‘pool’ + flēot ‘estuary inlet stream’.
Marham : from Marham (Norfolk) or Marholm (Northants) both recorded as Marham in medieval records. The place-names probably derive from Old English mere mær ‘mere pool’ + hām ‘village homestead’.
Marland : 1: English (Lancashire): habitational name from Marland in Castleton (Lancashire) named from Old English mere ‘pool’ or (ge)mǣre ‘boundary border’ + land ‘land’.2: Dutch: habitational name from Maarland on Oost-Voorne (South Holland) now obsolete or from Maarland in Eijsden (Dutch Limburg).
Marlow : 1: English: habitational name from the place in Buckinghamshire on the Thames named in Old English with mere ‘lake pool’ + lāfe ‘remnants leavings’ i.e. a boggy area remaining after a lake had been drained. There has been some confusion with Marley.2: Americanized form of French Canadian Marleau.
Marton : 1: English: habitational name from any of several places so called principally in Lincolnshire Warwickshire and North Yorkshire named in Old English as ‘settlement by a lake’ (from mere or mær ‘pool lake’ + tūn ‘settlement’) or as ‘settlement by a boundary’ (from (ge)mære ‘boundary’ + tūn ‘settlement’). Compare Martin 2.2: Hungarian (Márton): from the personal name Márton (see Martin 1). This surname is also found in Romania; see also 3 below.3: Slovak Croatian Serbian and Slovenian: from the Hungarian personal name Márton ‘Martin’ or an adaptation of the Hungarian surname Márton (see 2 above).4: Slovak (Martoň): from a pet form of the personal name Martin.
Marvin : 1: English (mainly Leicestershire and Lincolnshire): from the Middle English personal name Merefin Merevin Old English Merefin. This is probably formed with Old English mere ‘sea’ + Finn (a personal name derived from the ethnic name). Alternatively it may be a borrowing of an unrecorded Old Norse name Møra-Finnr.2: Slovenian: nickname from marvin the name of a tart light red wine.3: French: unexplained.
Mayer : 1: English (Staffordshire): post-medieval form of Mear which is either a topographic name from Middle English mere ‘pond pool’ (Old English mere) or Middle English mere ‘boundary’ (Old English (ge)mǣre) or a habitational name from one or more of the many places with names derived from these terms such as Mere (Cheshire Lincolnshire Wiltshire) Meir in Caverswall (Staffordshire) and Meare (Somerset).2: English: occupational name for a physician from Old French mire Middle English mire meir meyre originally synonymous with Myer.3: English: occasionally an occupational name for a mayor from Middle English Old French mair(e) (from Latin maior ‘greater superior’; compare Mayor). In France the title denoted various minor local officials and the same is true of Scotland (see Mair 2). In England however the term was normally restricted to the chief officer of a borough and the surname may have been given not only to a citizen of some standing who had held this office but also as a nickname to a pompous or officious person.4: German and Dutch (of German origin): variant of Meyer 1. This form of the surname (or its transliteration) is also established in many other parts of Europe most notably in Russia France (Alsace Lorraine and Nord) and Hungary. Compare Myers.5: Jewish (Ashkenazic): from a variant of the personal name Meyer (see Meyer 2).6: Americanized (or Germanized) form of Polish Czech Slovak Slovenian Croatian Serbian Hungarian and German Majer.7: Dutch: variant archaic or Americanized of Maijer an occupational name for a reaper or mower from Middle Dutch mader Dutch maaier.8: Altered form of French Canadian Maillé (see Maille 1).
Mear : 1: English (mainly Staffordshire Derbyshire and Yorkshire): topographic name from Middle English mere ‘pond pool’ (Old English mere) or Middle English mere ‘boundary’ (Old English (ge)mǣre); or a habitational name from one or more of the many places with names derived from these terms such as Mere (Cheshire Lincolnshire Wiltshire) Meir in Caverswall (Staffordshire) and Meare (Somerset).2: English: variant of Mayer.3: Breton (Finistère): regional variant of Le Mer ‘maire’ (see Lemer).
Mearman : from Middle English mer(e)-min mereman ‘merman one who misleads or deceives’.for someone who lived by a pool or boundary from Middle English mere ‘pond pool’ (Old English mere) or mere ‘boundary’ (Old English (ge)mǣre) + man ‘man’.
Meer : 3: Muslim (mainly Pakistan also common elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent): variant of Mir.4: Jewish: variant of Meyer 2.1: North German; Dutch (Van der Meer): topographic name for someone who lived by a body of water Middle Dutch mere Middle Low German mere mer ‘lake’. Compare Vandermeer.2: English (mainly Warwickshire and Staffordshire): variant of Mear.
Merin : 1: Spanish (Merín): possibly a variant of Marín (see Marin) or a habitational name from any of the places in Galicia (Spain) named Merín (A Coruña and Pontevedra provinces).2: Jewish (from Belarus): metronymic from the Yiddish female personal name Mere a pet form of the personal name of Miryam (see Mirkin) with the addition of the Slavic possessive suffix -in.
Merman : 1: Americanized form of North German Meermann a topographic name for someone living by a large lake.2: English: variant of Mearman either a nickname from Middle English mer(e)-min mereman ‘merman one who misleads or deceives’ or a habitational name for someone who lived by a pool or boundary from Middle English mere ‘pond pool’ (Old English mere) or mere ‘boundary’ (Old English (ge)mǣre) + man ‘man’.
Merrin : English (East Midlands): habitational name from Mareham on the Hill (Lincolnshire) or from Meering (Nottinghamshire). The placenames mean ‘(settlement of) the dwellers by the pond(s) or pool(s)’ from Old English mere mær ‘pond pool’ + the Old English groupname suffix -ingas.
Merriott : English:: 1: habitational name from Merriott in Somerset. The placename may derive from Old English mere miere ‘mare’ mere ‘pool’ or (ge)mǣre ‘boundary’ + geat ‘gate gap’.2: from the Middle English male personal name Meryet (Old English Mǣrgēat from mǣre ‘famous’ + Gēat a tribal name). In post-medieval times both this surname and the placename in 1 above underwent changes in pronunciation sometimes by confusion with Marriott and often by losing the medial -i- or -y- hence Merritt Meritt and so on.
Merton : English: habitational name from one or more of the many places called Merton such as found in Surrey Kent Devon Oxfordshire and Norfolk. The placename derives from Old English mere ‘pool’ + tūn ‘farmstead estate’. There has probably been some confusion with both Marton and Murton.
Mery : 1: French: from a vernacular form of the personal name Médéric derived from an ancient Germanic personal name composed of mecht ‘strength might’ + rīc ‘power; ruler’.2: French: from a shortened form of the personal name Aimery from ancient Germanic Haimeric from haim ‘home’ + rīk ‘realm power’.3: French: habitational name from any of the places in Ardennes Aube Calvados Marne and Val-d'Oise all derived from the same Gallo-Roman name as Merry 5.4: Catalan: possibly a variant of Marí (see Mari).5: Hungarian (Méry): habitational name for someone from a place called Mére in Hont County (now in southern Slovakia) or Mérő in Somogy County. It is also found in Slovakia.6: English: variant of Merry.
Mirfield : 1: in Yorks from Mirfield (WR Yorks). The place-name denoted either a piece of pleasant open country (Old English myrig + feld) or a piece of open land where games were played (Old English myrgen ‘joy pleasure’). The surname was sometimes confused or conflated with Murfin. 2: in Sussex and Kent perhaps from Maresfield (Sussex) with loss of medial -s-. The place-name probably denotes ‘open land by a marsh or pool’ (Old English mersc or mere + feld). The 1379 Cuckfield example might alternatively derive from Merryfields in Cuckfield (Sussex) which may have denoted ‘open land where games are played’ like the name in (1) but the place-name's earliest spelling is Merifeelds in 1606 so it could have been named from the surname altered by folk etymology. 3: in Essex perhaps from Merefields in Little Waltham (Essex) possibly recorded as Merisfeld (1216-72) with a similar etymology to that of Maresfield in (2).
Mortiboys : of uncertain origin. It could have arisen from a compound of Old French mort(i)er ‘mud’ (attested with this sense only in the place-names (Le) Mortier and (Les) Mortiers numerous in N France) and Old French bois ‘wood’. No French place-name with this compound has been identified so the question arises whether *Morterbois later becoming Mortiboys might be a translation of English Fulwood (‘muddy wood’) possibly originating in Anglo-Norman French legal documents . In Warwicks where Mortiboys is mainly recorded Fulwood was the former name of Clay Hall in Tanworth in Arden (Warwicks) and had been the surname of its owners since at least the 13th century (see Fullwood). The co-occurrence of both surnames in the following parishes could be mere coincidence: Thomas Mortyboies 1540 and Fraunces Fulwoode 1576 in IGI (Solihull Warwicks); Margareta Fulwood 1585 and Joseph Morteboyes 1707 in IGI (Tanworth in Arden Warwicks where Thomas Mortiboys owned land probably in the early 1500s); Mary Fulwood 1653 and Anne Mortiboys 1691 in IGI (Wootton Wawen Warwicks). Perhaps members of the Fullwood family used Mortiboys as an alias but this is unproven.
Occomore : of uncertain origin. Possible sources include Hockmore in Cowley (Oxon) which is recorded as Hokemere Hockemere in the 13th century and a lost place called Ockmere in Saint Mary Cray (Kent) recorded as Acmere in 1242–3 Hokemere in 1278 Okemere in 1364 but there is no clear evidence that either gave rise to a surname. The Oxon place is probably named with Old English (ge)mǣre ‘boundary border’ and an uncertain initial element. The Kent place-name derives from Old English āc ‘oak’ + mere ‘pool’.
Osmer : English (Kent) and North German: from an Old English and ancient Germanic personal name composed of Old English Old Saxon ōs ‘god’ + Old English mǣr Old Saxon mere ‘famous’ (Middle English Osmer).
Padmore : English: habitational name from Podmore (Staffordshire) which is recorded as Podemore in 1086 Poddemere in the 13th century and Pademor in 1300 or possibly from Podimore (Somerset) or Patmore Hall in Albury (Hertfordshire) which is recorded as Patemere in 1086. The Staffordshire placename derives from Old English pode padde ‘toad’ + mōr ‘moor’ or perhaps mere ‘pool’. The Hertfordshire placename derives from the Old English personal name P(e)atta + mere. The etymology of the Somerset placename is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms. This surname is also established in the West Indies (mainly Barbados).
Passmore : English (mainly Devon):: 1: nickname from Old French passe mer ‘cross the sea’ used for a seafarer or sailor. See also Parslow.2: habitational name from Peasemore (Berkshire). The placename derives from Old English pise ‘pea’ + mere ‘pool’.
Patmore : English: habitational name from Podmore in Staffordshire which is recorded as Podemore in 1086 Poddemere in the 13th century and Pademor in 1300 or possibly from Podimore (Somerset) or Patmore Hall in Albury (Hertfordshire) which is recorded as Patemere in 1086. The Staffordshire placename derives from Old English pode padde ‘toad’ + mōr ‘moor’ or perhaps mere ‘pool’. The Hertfordshire placename derives from the Old English personal name P(e)atta + Old English mere. The etymology of the Somerset placename is uncertain due to a lack of medieval forms.
Plummer : English:: 1: occupational name for a worker in lead especially a maker of lead pipes and conduits from Middle English plum(b)er plom(b)er plummer ‘worker or dealer in lead plumber’ (Anglo-Norman French plum(m)er plomner).2: habitational name from Plummers in Hertfordshire which probably derives from Middle English plo(u)me ‘plum’ + mere ‘lake pool pond’. The name is also established in Ireland taken there from England in the 17th century.
Radmore : from any of several places called Radmore (Staffs Northants Cheshire) Redmoor (Cornwall Cambs) Redmere (ER Yorks Cambs) or Redmire (NR Yorks). Most of the place-names derive from Old English rēad ‘red’ or hrēod ‘reed’ + mōr ‘moor’ or mere ‘pool’. The Cheshire place-name appears to derive from Old English rod ‘clearing’ + mōr.
Rushmer : primarily from Rushmere (Suffolk) or Rushmere Saint Andrew (Suffolk) both of which are recorded as Ryscemara in 1086 but perhaps also from one or more of the several other places called Rushmere Rushmoor or Rushmore including Rushmere in Charing (Kent) which is recorded as Ryssem'e in 1258. The place-names derive from Old English risc ‘rush’ + mere ‘pool’.
Rushmore : 1: English (Suffolk and Norfolk): habitational name primarily from Rushmere (Suffolk) or Rushmere Saint Andrew (Suffolk) but perhaps also from one or more of the several other places called Rushmere Rushmoor or Rushmore including Rushmere in Charing (Kent). The placenames derive from Old English risc ‘rush’ + mere ‘pool’.2: Probably also an Americanized form of German Ruschmeyer or Ruschmeier.
Scotchmer : apparently from an unidentified locality in Suffolk named either from a marsh (Old English mōr) a pool (Old English mere) or a boundary (Old English (ge)mǣre) associated with a man named Scot either with the Old and Middle English given name Scot(t) the ethnic name Scott ‘Scot’ or the surname Scott. However if the surnames of John Schotymere (1447) John Shotymer (1492) and Thomas Schotmer (1668) belong here it is possible that spellings like Skottismore and Scotchmore represent altered forms by folk etymology of another unidentified place-name *Shotemere with a different first element such as the Old English personal name Scēot or Old English sc(e)ota ‘trout’ hence ‘Scēot's pool’ or ‘trout pool’. Alternatively Keith Briggs suggests that Shotymere might be a compound of Old English Scēot Old English *scēot ‘steep slope’ or Old English sc(e)ot ‘shooting; a projecting piece of land (?)’ + Old English (ge)mǣre ‘boundary’. The first elements probably occur in Shotford Heath Shotley and Shottisham in Suffolk.
Seamer : 1: from the Middle English personal name Semer Samar (Old English Sǣmǣr from sǣ ‘sea’ + mǣre ‘famous’). Some of the following bearers may alternatively belong with (2) or (3). There may also have been confusion with Seymour. 2: from either of two places called Seamer (NR Yorks) or from Semer (Suffolk) or Semere near Dickleburgh (Norfolk). The place-names all derive from Old English sǣ ‘sea lake’ + mere ‘pool’. 3: from Middle English semer(e) ‘tailor’ (Old English sēamere). Compare Simister.
Sledmere : from Sledmere (ER Yorks) which is recorded as Sleddemer(e) in the 13th and 14th centuries. The place-name derives from Old English slæd ‘valley’ + mere ‘pool’.
Stammer : 1: English: from the Middle English personal name Stanmar Stanmer (late Old English Stānmǣr from stān ‘stone’ + mǣre ‘famous’) found chiefly in East Anglia.2: English: variant of Stanmore a habitational name from Stanmore (Middlesex) or Stanmer (Sussex) both of which derive from Old English stān ‘stone rock’ + mere ‘pool’.3: North German: variant of Stamer.
Stanmore : from Stanmore (Middx) or Stanmer (Sussex) both of which are recorded as Stanmere in 1086. The place-names derive from Old English stān ‘stone rock’ + mere ‘pool’.
Sturmer : 1: English: habitational name from Sturmer (Essex) name from the river Stour itself named with a word related to the ancient Germanic root stūr- ‘strong stiff fierce’ + Old English mere ‘pool’.2: German (Stürmer): see Stuermer.
Sycamore : from a minor place called Siglemere in Bramford (Suffolk) and possibly named from Old English *sīcel ‘small stream’ + mere ‘pool’. The surname has been transformed in modern times as if for the tree sycamore which was introduced into Britain in the 16th century.
Throckmorton : English: habitational name from Throckmorton in Worcestershire which is named with Old English throc ‘beam bridge’ + mere ‘pool’ + tūn ‘enclosure settlement’.
Vandermeer : Dutch (Van der Meer) and Flemish: topographic name for someone who lived by a lake Middle Dutch mere or a habitational name for someone from any of numerous places called with this word.
Walmer : English:: 1: habitational name perhaps from Walmer in Kent so named from Old English walh ‘foreigner Briton serf’ (genitive plural wala) + mere ‘pool’.2: variant of Womer.
Waterworth : English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): occupational name from Middle English water ‘water’ + ward ‘guard’ probably for an officer in charge of an area of water. All the early examples occur on the banks of Martin Mere a large freshwater lake (now drained) in western Lancashire.
Whitmore : English: habitational name from Whitmoor (Devon) or Whitmore (Staffordshire and Dorset) or from any of numerous other places in England with names denoting a white moor or mere (from Old English hwīt ‘white’ + mōr ‘moor’ or mere ‘pool’).
Widmer : 1: German and Swiss German: status name from Middle High German widemer ‘tenant farmer who worked on land that had been endowed to a parish church Middle High German widem(e) ‘prebend’.2: German: variant of Wittmer 1.3: Germanized form of Slovenian and Croatian Vidmar itself of the same ultimately German origin as 1 above. Compare Widmar.4: English: habitational name from Widmere in Ibstone (Buckinghamshire) named from Old English wīthig ‘willow withy’ + mere ‘pool’. The rare personal name Widmer may also have contributed to the surname.
Womer : English: probably a variant of Woolmer which is either from the Middle English personal name Wulmar Wolmer (Old English Wulfmǣr from wulf ‘wolf’ + mǣr(e) ‘famous’) or perhaps a habitational name from Woolmer Forest (Hampshire) Wolmer Farm in Ogbourne Saint George (Wiltshire) Woolmore Farm in Melksham (Wiltshire) or any other place called with Middle English wolf + mere ‘pool’.
Woolmer : 1: from the Middle English personal name Wulmar Wolmer (Old English Wulfmǣr from wulf ‘wolf’ + mǣr(e) ‘famous’). Some of the surname early bearers may belong under (2). 2: alternatively perhaps from Woolmer Forest (Hants) Wolmer Farm in Ogbourne Saint George (Wilts) Woolmore Farm in Melksham (Wilts) or any other place named with Middle English wolf + mere ‘pool’. Reaney also suggests a lost place-name Wolmoor in Ormskirk (Lancs) apparently based on the two early bearers from 1246. Some of the early bearers below may belong with (1).
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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