My search for our family crest is an ongoing one. The one on the left is the original that my family has seen since my childhood in the late 60's and early 70's. It came in the mail as one of those things where you can order a book and a plaque. The one in the center is the same, taken from a little wallet photo that came in the mail that I mentioned. I've always accepted it as our crest until I started doing this family history on a more serious note in the 90's. Nowadays, with my leather business and great interest in medieval history and research, I am often in a position to take advantage of many resources that are presented to me, and in every case I come up with the crest on the right.

     My current documentation states:

    When the surname Lorimer, and it's variants Lorrimer and Lorimar, is found in Ireland, it is of Scottish origin, having been brought to Ireland during the Plantation period of the seventeenth century.

    This surname of occupational origin, that is derived from the trade or profession pursued by the initial bearer. In this instance, the name is derived from the Middle English word "lorimer, lorymer", which in turn comes from the Old French "lorimer, or lorinier," meaning "a maker of bits, spurs, stirrup irons, and generally of all metal articles relating to horse-mastery". In Latin charters this became "loremarius". Hugh Lorimarius and his heirs had a grant of lands near Perth, from William the Lion, for services performed by him. Matthew Lorimer, a descendant of Hugh, said the lands to William de Len, burgess of Perth, by whom they were gifted to the Abbey of Scone in the reign of Alexander II.

     The name is found in Midlothian in the fifteenth century, in Stirlingshire in the sixteenth, and in Dumfriesshire it is not an uncommon surname. Today this surname is still mainly in the north of Ireland.

BLAZON OF ARMS:  Per chevron gules and or, two spurs paleways, romels downwards, buckled and strapped in chief of the second, in base a horse courant at liberty sable.

TRANSLATION: The spurs and horse are puns on the origin of the name. The heraldic colour gules (red) denotes Military Fortitude, and Magnanimity, and or (gold) indicates Generosity and Elevation of Mind.

CREST: Two eagles, wings conjoined and expanded proper, surmounted by a cross crosslet fitchie gules.

MOTTO: Upward - Onward

ORIGIN: Ireland.

Fun Stuff!

Did you know that "Prince Charming" was a Lorimer? His leather satchel bears our crest! Click the Photo for the fun details!