Orms History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Orms

What does the name Orms mean?

The ultimate origins of this name appear to be Nordic, where Orme derives from the Old Norse word "Ormr," meaning "Serpent" or "Dragon." It is certainly not unlikely that the name came to Normandy with the Viking invasions of Rollo in 911, and then making its way to Britain with the Norman invasion of 1066. The name also existed in France, coming from the Old French "orme," which meant "an elm tree." It also likely that some of the instances of Orms in Britain were as a result of Danish, and Swedish contact along the Eastern shores of England and Scotland.

Early Origins of the Orms family

The surname Orms was first found in Yorkshire where Orm was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1In Lancashire, the Pipe Rolls of 1169 list Orm de Hedoc. 2 Here, the family claim descent from the parish of Ormskirk. "Ormskirk is not found in the Domesday survey; but, according to very credible tradition, the parish belonged to Orm, the Saxon proprietor of Halton, who, driven from his possessions in Cheshire, established himself in Lancashire, and, by his marriage with Alice, daughter of Herveus, a Norman nobleman, ancestor of Theobald Walter, obtained large estates in this county. He was the founder, no doubt, of the church; the word kirk, with his own name, constituting the name of the parish." 3

Later in Derbyshire, Orum was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1175 and later again, John Orm was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. In Suffolk, Augustin Orumme was found in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for Alice filius Orme, Cambridgeshire and William Orm, Nottinghamshire. 4 the Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. listed Orme de Neville, Lincolnshire, 20 Edward I and Ormus Archebrgge, Westmorland.

Early History of the Orms family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Orms research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1153, 1620, 1654, 1660 and 1671 are included under the topic Early Orms History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Orms Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Orme, Orm and others.

Early Notables of the Orms family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Orms Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Orms family to Ireland

Some of the Orms family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Orms family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Fabian Orme, who settled in Maryland in 1668; Richard Orme, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1686; Robert Orme, who settled in Maryland in 1673; Andrew Orme, who came to Virginia in 1765.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)