This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an occupational name for a whitewasher. It derives from a derivative of the Olde English pre 7th Century "lim", lime, with the addition of the agent suffix "er" (one who does or works with). A whitewasher whitens walls and other surfaces, using a substance consisting of a suspension of lime in water. Job descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupational of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. The surname is first recorded in the early 13th Century (see below), and is also found as Limer. One, John le Limer, is noted in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire (1279). Recordings of the surnames from London Church Registers include; Jonne Lymer, who was christened on February 5th 1552 at St. Andrews, Enfield; William, son of Edward Lymer, who was christened on November 20th 1577 at St. Andrew's, Holborn; and John Lymer who married Jane Pattinson on February 4th 1592 at St. Giles', Cripplegate. The Coat of Arms most associated with the family is red with a pale lozengy silver, the Crest being a lion's head couped per pale indented silver and red. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Lymer (witness), which was dated 1219, in the "Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216-1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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