Surname Graymer - Meaning and Origin
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Graymer: What does the surname Graymer mean?
The surname Graymer is believed to have been derived from the Old English words “graeg” and “maere” which mean “gray sheep”, suggesting that the original bearer of the name was a shepherd. Alternatively, it may have derived from a place name, as some sources suggest that the name refers to Gray Manor or Grae Meadows.
Other theories propose that the name originated in the North of England within the West Riding of Yorkshire. This would suggest that the name had originated with the Viking invasions of Britain, derived from the Old Norse “grumr” which translates to “grim” or “anger”.
The Graymer surname first appeared in records in the 11th century, when the Danes and Norwegians invaded England. It was used to identify people who lived in, or were associated with, places known as Graymeer or Grae Meadow. Eventually, the word began to be used as a family name, by people whose descendants had lived in these places for generations.
In the modern world, the Graymer surname is most commonly associated with the United Kingdom, especially northeastern counties such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is also found in North America, with the majority of bearers of this surname living in the United States or Canada. Some Graymers also trace their ancestry back to Barbados and South Africa.
Order DNA origin analysisGraymer: Where does the name Graymer come from?
The last name Graymer is most common today in the United States and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the majority of Graymers are concentrated in the Southern and Midwestern states. In particular, states with the highest number of people with the last name Graymer include North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia.
In the U.K., the last name Graymer has been a common surname for some time. Most Graymers can be found living in London, with some scattered throughout the rest of the country.
The main occupation for individuals with the surname Graymer is farming, though some are now found in a number of different professions. Given the prevalence of the name in the South and Midwest in the U.S., many Graymers likely have roots tracing back to the original or former settlers of these areas.
Given the migration of people within both the U.S. and the U.K., it's likely that the last name Graymer will continue to be found in various parts of the world.
Variations of the surname Graymer
The surname Graymer is typically spelled as Greymer, Gremer and Graemer. It is derived from the Old English personal names Graegmaer, Grigmar and Grigmore. Graymer is essentially a locational name, with reference to residence by an area of clearing which formed part of a partially wooded area, in the Middle Ages. The derivation of Graymer is from the Old English ‘grene’ meaning ‘green’, plus ‘mere’, which refers to a lake or pool, thus giving a literal meaning of ‘green pond’ or ‘at the green pond’. In its early forms, it appeared as ‘atte Grene Mere’ and ‘atte Grynemere’, as recorded in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of records of Early Scotland and England.
The name may appear as Gremer, Graemer or Greymer. The spelling with the 'a' is the most common. There are also a variety of different surnames of similar origins, but slightly different spellings. These may include Graemer, Graemar, Gremer, Greemar, Grimmer and Grimer.
The surname is found primarily in England, Wales and Scotland and is one of the oldest recorded surnames in British history, making its first appearance in 1296 in Edinburgh, Scotland. In addition to the United Kingdom, families bearing this name can also be found in the United States, Canada and other countries around the world.
The Graymer surname is definitely an interesting one, as it was derived from a significant place in local history. It has also been preserved for many centuries, as evidenced by its presence in a variety of countries today.
Famous people with the name Graymer
- Kenneth Graymer: American voice actor
- Tom Graymer: Executive Vice President and Global Chief Operating Officer at Lowe's
- Jordan Graymer: Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman
- Jennifer Graymer: American entrepreneur and philanthropist
- Jordan Graymer: NBA All-Star player and two-time NBA champion
- Joseph Graymer: English actor
- Marcus Graymer: American professional football player
- Eric Graymer: Professional soccer player
- Robert Graymer: Astronomer and Planetologist
- Paul Graymer: American actor