This unusual and interesting name is of early Medieval English origin, and is an occupational surname used of a poet, minstrel, or balladeer. The name derives from the Middle English word "rime(n)", meaning to compose or recite verses, from the Old French "rimer", from "rime" metre, from the Latin "rhythmns". A number of modern surnames have been generated from this source, among them "Rime", "Rhyme" and the patronymic forms "Rimes" and "Rhymes", meaning "son of Rhyme", "Rimer", and "Rimmer". These latter forms are recorded early on in the 13th Century; one Warin Rymer is recorded in the Yorkshire Patent Rolls of 1229. In London the name development includes Rime (1562), Rimes (1612) and Rymes (1637). The marriage of Mary Rhymes and Richard Millard was recorded on September 29th at St. Dionis Backchurch, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robard Ryme, (christening), which was dated January 10th 1551, at St. Andrew's, Enfield, Middlesex, during the reign of King Edward V1, known as "The Boy King", 1547 - 1553. 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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