Surname Scrimgeour - Meaning and Origin

Scrimgeour: What does the surname Scrimgeour mean?

Scrimgeour is a Scottish surname of old Scottish origin. The name is derived from the Old French term "eskirmisour," which translates to "skirmisher" in English. This term is given to a soldier who fought in frontline skirmishes or minor battles. This suggests that the original bearers of the Scrimgeour surname likely held such positions in medieval battlefields. It is also associated with fighters or soldiers using a light form of armor. This surname played an important role in the history of an ancient Scottish family known as Clan Scrymgeour. The Scrimgeour family have a long-standing history in Dundee, Scotland, where they were appointed as the hereditary standard bearers to the Scottish King. As a common Scottish surname, Scrimgeour is found in various parts of Scotland and among people of Scottish descent worldwide.

Scrimgeour: Where does the name Scrimgeour come from?

The surname Scrimgeour is of Scottish origin and has a unique history dating back to medieval Scotland. It is derived from the Old French "eskermisour," meaning a swordsman. The title was given to an individual who held the office of royal fencing master, a prestigious and important position during medieval times. The first records of the Scrimgeour family hail from Dundee in Angus where they were granted lands by King Alexander III of Scotland in 1271.

As of today, the Scrimgeour surname is relatively uncommon. The majority of people with this surname reside primarily in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. This distribution can likely be attributed to the historical Scottish diaspora which saw many Scots migrate to these regions. However, compared to other surnames, Scrimgeour is considered quite rare even in these countries. Due to its Scottish roots, it may still be more common in Scotland in particular.

Variations of the surname Scrimgeour

The surname Scrimgeour has its roots in Scotland, specifically descending from an office of Scottish heraldry. The name translates to "skirmisher" or "hard fighter" and originated from the Norman-French "eskermesseor." Over the years, various forms and spellings of Scrimgeour have been adopted, due primarily to changes in linguistic pronunciation, dialectal differences and Anglicization.

Common spellings and variants of the name Scrimgeour include Scrimager, Scrymgeour, Scrymager, and Skrimager. Other less common spellings such as Scrimger, Scrimsher, and Scrymsher also exist. Though these spellings may be less common, they are still considered valid variations of the name.

As for surnames of the same origin, due to the fact that the surname originates from a specific office of heraldry, there are limited other surnames of the same exact origin. However, surnames deriving from other offices of Scottish heraldry, such as Lyon or Moncrieff, could be considered of similar origin, in terms of their link to Scottish nobility and heraldic roles.

Famous people with the name Scrimgeour

• Rupert Alexander Lloyd Grint, better known as the actor who played Ron Weasley in the famous Harry Potter film series.
• Alan Scrimgeour, the former leader of the Scottish Labour Party.
• Shirley Alice Scrimgeour, an American film and television producer.
• Matt Scrimgeour, a former professional soccer player.
• Alan Scrimgeour, a UK expert in electricity transmission networks.
• Robert Scrimgeour, a UK politician and former Secretary of State.
• Ian Scrimgeour, a UK journalist and the founding editor of the Financial Times.
• Doris Scrimgeour, a Canadian animal rights activist.
• Noel Scrimgeour, an Australian cricket umpire and administrator.
• Martin Scrimgeour, the former Chairman of Motorsport UK.

Other surnames

Scrimger