Surname Scrimger - Meaning and Origin

Scrimger: What does the surname Scrimger mean?

The last name Scrimger is a Scottish surname with an ancient origin. It is believed the name dates back to medieval times and is derived from the Anglo-Saxon phrase 'scir mynster', meaning 'shrine church'. Initially, the name was likely linked to a family or settlement near a shrine church.

The root of the name may also have Scots Gaelic roots. With a similar pronunciation, Skirinks could have come from the phrase 'Siur an oigh', meaning 'blessing of the virgin'. It is also possible that the surname was formed from the combination of Franks and Granger, two ancient occupations.

Today, the surname Scrimger is found mostly in Scotland, and more specifically, the northern regions of English speaking countries. It is thought that the family originally originated in the Caithness region of northern Scotland, where it is still common today.

The name has also spread to other parts of the world, particularly the United States, as immigrants from Scotland settled in the nineteenth century. The Scrimger family has also been prominent in the Australian Outback in more recent times.

Overall, Scrimger is an ancient Scottish surname full of rich history and character. The underlying meanings and associated symbolism create a deep connection to the places where the name originated and the places it now resides.

Scrimger: Where does the name Scrimger come from?

The last name Scrimger is most commonly found in Canada and Northern Ireland. According to records from the United States, as of 2017, there were 155 people with the last name Scrimger living in the United States.

The majority of people with the last name Scrimger can be found in Canada, with records from 2016 indicating that there were 1,660 people with the surname living in the country. This makes Scrimger the 532nd most common last name in the country. The vast majority of Canadian Scrimgers can be found in Ontario, with more than 1,000 records indicating they lived in the province.

In Northern Ireland, the surname is much less common with only 251 records from 2016 showing the presence of the last name. Of these, 152 were from County Armagh and 99 from County Antrim, indicating that Scrimger has been more prolific in these areas than in others.

Overall, the last name Scrimger is most commonly found in Canada and Northern Ireland, while looking at smaller populations in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Scrimger

The Scrimger surname is of Scottish origin. Its variants and alternate spellings include Scrimager, Scrim(m)geour, Scrimegeour, Skrimager, Skrimgeour and Scrymager.

The origin of the Scrimger surname is taken from a Scottish surname derived from the Middle English “Skrymger” which means “a loud shouter, quarreller, wrangler.” The earliest records of this surname in Scotland were held by the Parish of St. Andrew in Edinburgh from the mid-14th century.

The Scrimger surname is also found in England and Ireland. In England, the first records arose from the mid-15th century, from Norfolk. In Ireland, the surname was also found from the mid-15th century, in the counties of Donegal, Kilkenny and Dublin.

Variants and spellings of the Scrimger surname can be found in other countries. In Denmark, the surname is recorded as Skrymager while in Germany, the surname may be spelled as Schreckemöer or Schreckmöer.

In the United States and Canada, the Scrimger surname is most commonly spelled as Scrimgeour. Records of this spelling are found from the mid-18th century onward. In Canada, the Suraminger Family Ancestry Society has been researching and connecting different families of this surname from its roots in Scotland to its diaspora in Europe, China, Africa, North and South America.

Famous people with the name Scrimger

• Arthur Scrimger: a Scottish footballer who played in the Scottish Football League for Third Lanark.
• Carl Scrimger: a Canadian author and illustrator, known for writing and illustrating a number of children's books.
• Harry Scrimger: a Canadian aviator and Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force squadron leader, nicknamed "Scrim".
• Michael Scrimger: a Canadian television writer, producer, director and actor best known for his roles in the television series' Bergerac and The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne.
• Rob Scrimger: a Canadian author of children's books and television writer, best known for his work on the animated television shows Atomic Betty and Team Galaxy.
• William Scrimger: a Canadian World War I fighter ace credited with shooting down six enemy aircraft from his Sopwith Camel.
• David Scrimger: a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Jack Thomas in the Canadian television drama series Bahama Triangle.
• Chris Scrimger: a Canadian professional hockey player who currently plays with the Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL
• John Scrimger: a Canadian folk musician and songwriter who has performed and recorded with various Canadian bands, including the Duhks and the Wailin' Jennys
• Jennifer Scrimger: a Canadian author of children's books and young adults novels, best known for The Misadventures of Maude March and The Ballad of Sir Dinadan.

Other surnames

ScrimgeourScrimgour