Surname Elems - Meaning and Origin

Elems: What does the surname Elems mean?

The last name Elems is of German ancestry. The name is derived from the old Germanic word "ealmsa," meaning "apple." It is likely that the name initially denoted a person or group of people who were associated with orchards or appled growing.

Throughout the centuries, this name changed in different ways throughout the Germanic region. In some versions, it became Elms, while in other forms, it became Elems. In Latin records, it was often spelled Alamensis, meaning "of the apple trees."

The earliest record of this name is believed to have come from the 12th century. Although this name has a Germanic origin, there are currently examples of it being used in many countries throughout the world including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany.

The name is mainly a patronymic or personal name derived from the given name Alam seeming to have been in use from an early date, as some examples of its usage date as far back as the seventeenth century. During the 1600s, several individuals with the name Elems were documented in areas around the Rhine River Valley in Germany.

Overall, the name Elems has an interesting and varied history, beginning as a name associated with apple growing and then becoming a common surname.

Elems: Where does the name Elems come from?

The last name Elems is typically seen today in the United States and Canada. It is of Germanic roots, first appearing in the 17th century when immigrants from Germany settled in the US and Canada, bringing their surname with them.

As a result, the surname Elems is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, the original location of the first Elems in America. Other states and provinces with a noteworthy population of Elems include Ohio, Ontario, California, and West Virginia. Records suggest that about 1 in every 11,342 people in the US has the last name Elems.

Outside the US and Canada, the surname Elems is found scattered across Europe, on both the east and west side of the continent. Italy is home to the highest population of Elems, with nearly 900 individuals bearing the surname, followed by the UK with over 500.

In Poland, the last name Elems is spelled Eleniusz, which may be a variant of the original spelling that emerged in the 19th century. Despite significant numbers of Elems in Europe, the population remains low compared to the US, where the surname has proliferated in recent centuries.

Variations of the surname Elems

The surname Elems (also known as Elmes, Elms, Elmsley, Ellems, Ellims and Elmse) has a complex history. Tracing its origins back to the Middle Ages, the name is thought to have descended from a Scandinavian pagan personal name, Elmar. Other sources claim it is a variant of the Germanic Helmus or Helmes, which references a small helmet.

In England, the name is likely to have been first found in Leicestershire, where the first record of the family dates back to the mid-12th century, under the name of Helms or Helmes. Over time, the surname has been spelled in many ways, including Elmes, Elms, Elmsley, Ellems, Ellims and Elmse.

It is likely that the surname was brought to rural England by Scandinavian settlers and eventually spread throughout the region. In later centuries, the surname gained notable popularity in the U.S. where it was mainly settled in fast-growing industrial cities such as New York and Chicago.

The surname Elems is now quite common, with many different forms being found throughout the world. Despite the many variances, all spellings of the same name can be traced back to the same original source.

Famous people with the name Elems

• Andrew Elems: Andrew Elems is a British television and film actor best known for his roles on the TV shows such as Big School, Coronation Street, Holby City, and Doctors.
• General Trevor Elems: General Trevor Elems is a four-star general in the United States Air Force, the former Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy, and the former Commander of the Air Education and Training Command.
• Nigel Elems: Nigel Elems is a British actor, best known for his role as Dr. Patrick Turner on the long-running drama series Casualty and its spin-off, Holby City.
• Lema Footeson Elems: Lema Footeson Elems was a Coconuts-Kispiox First Nations chief from British Columbia, Canada and the first woman to ever be elected as chief of a British Columbian First Nation.
• Charles Elems: Charles Elems was an American jazz saxophonist best known for his contributions to the bebop era of jazz music. He was a member of several influential groups including the Charlie Parker Quintet, Charles Mingus' Sextet, and Horace Silver's quintet.
• Lewis Dupont Elems: Lewis Dupont Elems, born on April 7, 1846, was a noted American cyclist and a pioneer of American bicycle racing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Ken Elems: Ken Elems is the Managing Director of Elems Professional Services Ltd., a software development, project management and business intelligence consultancy.
• E. J. Elems: E. J. Elems was an American author who wrote mystery novels and pulp fiction stories in the 1930s and 1940s. He was also a well-respected amateur sleuth and detective.
• Arthur Elems: Arthur Elems was an American mathematician and professor at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. He was the chair of the Mathematics Department for many years and authored several books in the field of mathematics education.
• Stratford Elems: Stratford Elems, born on October 16, 1939, is an American author and poet who has been widely praised for his creative use of language and his moving, evocative prose.

Other surnames

Elem