Surname Orme - Meaning and Origin
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Orme: What does the surname Orme mean?
Orme is a surname that is of Viking origin, deriving from the Old Norse personal name "Ormr", which means "serpent" or "dragon." During the Viking’s invasions of Britain, many Scandinavian names were introduced and integrated into English society and language. Over time, the original personal name "Ormr" entered the English language as a surname, becoming Orme. Most commonly found in areas of the UK with a strong historical Viking influence like Cumbria and Lancashire, the name Orme also has a geographical connotation, as "ormr" is also a term used in Old Norse to refer to a specific type of elongated hill known as a drumlin, and this may also have contributed to the development of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisOrme: Where does the name Orme come from?
The last name Orme is most commonly seen in England, Ireland and Scotland. In England concentrates of the name have been documented in the North West of the country in areas such as Lancashire and Cheshire. In Scotland the name is mainly found in Aberdeenshire and near the Scottish borders. In Ireland the name is mainly concentrated in Ulster in the North of the country.
The name has historically been associated with a Norse heritage, as Orme is an Old Norse name which originates from the words 'orr' meaning 'an eagle' and 'maer' meaning 'famous'. It was likely established in England, Ireland and Scotland as a result of the Viking invasions which took place in the 9th century.
In this way the surname Orme has been in Britain for nearly a thousand years and as a result can be found in many places today. In the modern day the surname is still quite popular in its areas of origin, although it is relatively uncommon in the US, where it is likely that most Ormes today are of British or Irish descent.
Variations of the surname Orme
The surname Orme originates from Norman French and means 'elm tree', making it an English topographical name for someone who lived near an elm tree. Variants of this surname include Orm, Ormee, Ormison, Orrison, Orrisson; Ormsby, and Urmston.
An alternate spelling could be Oram, although this spelling originally comes from a different origin as an anglicised version of Irish and Scottish surnames such as Ó Rodhmais, Ó Ruaidhmeis, and Ó Ruaidhmeas. It also derives from Orrell, which originally comes from a combination of the Old English pre 7th century 'oaer' meaning 'edge or border', and 'healh', referring to a corner of sheltered land.
In Scotland, other variations of the surname Orme include Ormin, Orem, and Oarm. Some of the surname spellings have also evolved over time. For example, the Old French form of Orme originally was Ormes, which is sometimes still seen today.
There are several other surnames with the same origin, including Ormond, Ormager, Ormandy, Ormiston, Ormsteed, and Ormswood. These variations may refer to particular places of origin, such as an orchard or wooded area in which elm trees were prominent. This could also be the underlying basis for some of the other derivatives such as Ormais, Ormay, and Ormington.
Overall, the surname Orme has various spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin, which are evidence of the many changes in this surname over time.
Famous people with the name Orme
- Helen Orme: British Actress, known for her roles in Casualty, Absolutely Fabulous, All About Me, and Night Kiss.
- Kirby Orme: An American Paralympic athlete who competed in alpine skiing. Kirby won silver and bronze medals at the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
- Patrick Orme: A renowned British painter and sculptor, who is especially prolific in the medium of public art.
- John Orme: An English architect and interior designer, best known for his work on the Blenheim Palace.
- Alfie Orme: A British businessman and entrepreneur, who was the founder of Random Label, a record label and management company.
- Brian Orme: A British television presenter, known for his series on the Discovery Channel.
- John Orme: An athlete, who competed for Great Britain in the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was a part of the 4x100m relay team.
- Frank Orme: An Australian politician, who was a member of the Australian Labor Party.
- Margaret Orme: A British author, who wrote numerous historical novels, several of which have been set in the Victorian era.
- Steve Orme: An actor and director, who appeared in numerous television shows and films. He is best known for his role in the 2017 horror-comedy film Get Out Your Handkerchiefs.