Dunmire History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Etymology of Dunmire

What does the name Dunmire mean?

The tale of the name Dunmire begins with a family who lived on the lands of Dundemore in Fife where the family has a long and distinguished history dating back to the early Middle Ages. The name literally means "the fortified hill," and many old strongholds in Scotland are so called. 1

Early Origins of the Dunmire family

The surname Dunmire was first found in Fife, in the territories of Dundemore, near Lindores. One of the first records of the name was Henry de Dundemore who witnessed a confirmation charter by John, Earl of Huntigdoun of land in Kynalchmund to the Abbey of Arboirath c. 1219 and later witnessed another charter by the same earl granting lands of Lundors to the monks of Lindores (c.1232-1237.) 2

In 1296, the Ragman Rolls listed Patrik de Dundemor and William de Dundemor as landholders in Fife.

Further to the south in England, Dinmore is an extra-parochial liberty, in the hundred of Grimsworth in Herefordshire. Here, "on Dinmore Hill was a commandery of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, founded by a brother of the order, in the reign of Henry II." 3

Hope under Dinmore is found in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Originally recorded as Hope in the Domesday Book of 1086 4, it became in Latin, Hope sub Dinnemor in 1291. "Dinmore may be a Welsh name 'din mauer,' meaning 'great fort,' or alternatively 'marsh of a man called Dynna,' from the Old English personal name + "mor." 5

Dinmore Manor House is a large rural house that dates back to 1189 when it was thought to have been built by Knights Templar.

Early History of the Dunmire family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dunmire research. Another 248 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1305, 1317, 1330, 1406, 1585, 1643, 1650, 1661, 1662, 1670, 1686, 1688, 1723 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Dunmire History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dunmire Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Dunmire has been spelled Dinsmore, Dinsmuir, Dunsmore, Dansmore, Dunmuir and many more.

Early Notables of the Dunmire family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dunmire Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dunmire Ranking

In the United States, the name Dunmire is the 10,365^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Dunmire family to Ireland

Some of the Dunmire family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 54 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dunmire family

In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Dunmire: James Dunsmore who settled in New England in 1652. Dunsmore of Virginia represented the colony in 1772. William Dunsmore settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1872.

Contemporary Notables of the name Dunmire (post 1700) +

Winona H. Dunmire, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia Democratic State Executive Committee, 1945 7
John H. Dunmire, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1908 7
Joe R. Dunmire, American politician, Member of South Dakota State House of Representatives 49th District, 1953-60 7

The Dunmire Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Spes anchora tuta
Motto Translation: Hope is a safe anchor.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html