Surname Esslemont - Meaning and Origin
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Esslemont: What does the surname Esslemont mean?
The last name Esslemont is of Scottish origin. It is derived from a place in Aberdeen known as Esslemont, which means "eastern hill or ridge" in Gaelic. The name is topographical and was likely used to identify individuals who resided near or on the eastern hill of this region. Over time, it transformed from a nomenclature indicating a location to a familial surname passed down through generations. It is known as a habitation name as it pertains to an existing place name. Like many other surnames, the spelling of Esslemont has also evolved over time with variations including Esslemont, Eslimont, Eslymont, Esslement, and Eslimount, among others. It's interesting to note that Esslemont is unique and relatively rare, making it easy for genealogists to trace its lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisEsslemont: Where does the name Esslemont come from?
The last name Esslemont is of Scottish origin. It is derived from a place named Esslemont in the old district of Formartine, near Ellon, in Aberdeen, Scotland. The name is thought to mean "the eastern hill" or "hill of the east wind" from the Scots Gaelic “earann” meaning division or district and “monadh” meaning hill, moor or upland.
The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Sir Edward de Esselemont, a knight who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England in 1296, during the "Interregnum" period, where Scotland was without a king.
While the name originates from Scotland, it has since spread to other regions through migration. Today, those with the surname Esslemont can be found in various countries including Great Britain, Australia, the US, and Canada. It is relatively rare, thus not considered common in any specific country or region. The largest concentration of people with the surname Esslemont can potentially still be found in Scotland, particularly in the region around Aberdeenshire.
Variations of the surname Esslemont
Esslemont is of Scottish origin, derived from the Aberdeenshire place of the same name which means "eastern settlement, or farm." Variations of this surname (including changes in spelling due to phonetics, regional accents and dialects, as well as migration and translation) can occur, even though Esslemont itself is quite rare. Potential variants could include Essleman, Esselmont and Eslamont. Another form of the name might be with the 'Esse' portion changed to 'Eas,' reflecting a phonetic spelling - as in Easlemont.
Some surnames like Montefiore or Montague, while appearing similar due to the 'mont' portion, are not related to Esslemont as they are of Italian and French origin respectively.
Surname spellings were often changed over time for a variety of reasons. Illiteracy, cultural adaptations, and variations in pronunciation often accounted for these changes. Formal spelling standardisations of names did not occur until relatively recent history, which means many surnames have alternate spellings. However, there are no commonly known variations for the Esslemont surname, as it is fairly uncommon.
Assessing name variants often requires genealogical research tracing name changes over time, immigration records, census data, and local histories.
Famous people with the name Esslemont
- John Esslemont: He is a well-known figure in the Baha'i Faith. He was a doctor, teacher, and writer and wrote one of the definitive introductions to the Baha'i religion.
- Tom Esslemont: He is a British journalist who has worked for the BBC World Service and Reuters.
- Peter Esslemont: A British politician, he was the Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Scotland from 2003 to 2007.
- David George Esslemont: An artist, printer, and author, best known for his hand-made books and fine press editions.
- Chris Esslemont: He is a former professional footballer from Scotland who has played for several Scottish clubs, including Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Peterhead.
- James Esslemont: A Scottish rugby union player, who represented the Scotland national rugby union team.
- Sir James William Helenus Esslemont: He served as Lord Provost of Aberdeen from 1925 to 1928.
- Ellen Esslemont: An Australian rules footballer who plays for Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's competition.