This interesting name is of Old Germanic origin, and has two possible derivations. Firstly, it may be developed from the Germanic personal name "Ragimar", composed of the elements "ragin", counsel, with "meri, mari", fame. Secondly, the modern surname found as Reimer, Remer and Riemer may have developed from an occupational name for a maker of leather reins, belts, and similar articles, derived from the Middle High German, "riemaere", an agent derivative of "rieme(n)", strap, belt, thong, from the Old High German "riomo". The surname is well recorded in Germany from the mid 16th Century on; the marriage of Hans Reimer and Barbara Capis was recorded in Neckarkreis, Wuertt, on September 1575. In Canada, the marriage of Jean Reimer and Marie Francoise Monet was recorded at Pointe-aux-Trembles, Ile de Montreal, on November 26th 1708, and one Jacob, son of David and Maria Reimer, was baptised on November 25th 1878 in Gretna, Manitoba. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ursula Riemer (christening), which was dated July 25th 1559, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany, during the reign of King Ferdinand 1, "Holy Roman Emperor", 1558 - 1564. 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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