Surname Delamere - Meaning and Origin
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Delamere: What does the surname Delamere mean?
The surname Delamere is of French and Irish origin. It is derived from the Old French phrase "de l'amère," meaning "from the bitter," but can also be associated with the Irish root phrase "Ó Laomáraigh," which means "descendant of Laomar."
In France, Delamere was traditionally associated with a location, rather than a family. “De L’amère” referred to a place named for its bitter terrain. It is believed that the Irish ancestors of the Delamere surname were originally from this area, before migrating to Ireland.
The Delamere family had a long and prestigious history in Ireland. The Delameres were a powerful family of Norman origin, and were amongst the first Norman settlers in the area now known as the county of Wexford. As the family’s influence and power increased, members of the Delamere family established themselves in various parts of Ireland.
The Delameres were known for their prominent positions as landowners and power-brokers in Irish society. They held title to large tracts of land throughout the region, and family members were part of the peerage in the county of Wexford. The family’s wealthy status gave them the opportunity to acquire further lands, and they had a presence in most of the Irish counties.
Today, the Delamere name is primarily associated with the Delamere Forest located in Cheshire, England. The Delamere estate is today considered to be one of the finest in Britain and an example of good forestry and land management. The Delamere family's legacy lives on in this grand estate.
Order DNA origin analysisDelamere: Where does the name Delamere come from?
The Delamere surname is commonly found today in the UK, Ireland, the United States, and Canada. Its oldest records are found in the UK, with the earliest mentions of the name occurring in the 10th century.
In the UK, the name is particularly prevalent in the rural counties of Cheshire and Lancashire, and it is estimated that over 14,000 people still carry the Delamere surname in the UK today.
The ancestral home of the Delamere family is located at Delamere Forest in Cheshire, England. This 7,400-acre ancient woodland is a fascinating place rich in history, with a wealth of ancient trees and gardens, as well as the ruins of an old castle.
The Delamere family were prominent landowners in the area from the 12th century, with many notable members of the Delamere family mentioned in documents over the centuries.
In the US, the surname is more sparsely distributed. There are several notable Delameres in California in particular, where several branches of the family were amongst the first settlers of the state.
In Canada, the surname is more commonly found in the province of Ontario, and there are a number of notable Delameres in Canada today.
In conclusion, the Delamere surname is still fairly common today and is especially prevalent in the UK. While the surname is found in a few other countries, the UK continues to be home to the largest concentration of Delameres.
Variations of the surname Delamere
The surname Delamere is of English origin and first appeared in Cheshire records, where the name was recorded as Le Mare, De la Mer, Delamer, Dela Mare, and Delamare. It was also recorded as Delameer in the Flemish spelling.
The variants of Delamere are generally believed to be derived from the ancient name Mare, which is thought to date as far back as the 9th century. This surname was most likely first found in Cheshire, England, where it came to be aimed at by settlers from France. The spelling of the name was likely adjusted by the language of the people who came to use the name, so variations in spelling would occur fairly frequently.
Variations of the surname Delamere include Delamare, De le Mare, De la Mer, Delamer, Delamars, and Delamair. It was often spelled Delamere, a common spelling today, because the 'e' coming last was the last vowel sound heard.
Other surname variants of the same origin are Mer, Merre, Mere, Merret, Meret, Merritt, Meert, and Merey. Each of these surnames was likely used in Normandy, England, and a few other places in Europe in different time periods to refer to a person of the same background.
The spelling of surnames is always changing over time and varied from region to region, so Delamere may have other spelling variations that are not listed here. It is important to research the regional backgrounds of a family line thoroughly in order to find all versions and spelling variations of Delamere.
Famous people with the name Delamere
- Hon. Sir Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, 7th Baronet, owner of Delamere Estate
- Richard William Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, 8th Baronet, owner of Delamere Estate
- David Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, 9th Baronet, owner of Delamere Estate
- William Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, 10th Baronet, owner of Delamere Estate
- Lady Louisa Delamere, sister of Hon. Sir Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe
- Trelawney Berkeley, Viscountess Delamere, wife of Hon. Sir Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe
- Lady Cynthia Delamere, daughter of Hon. Sir Euan Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe
- Captain Charles Cholmondeley, Marquess of Cholmondeley, eighth Viscount Delamere
- Lady Rose Cholmondeley, daughter of Captain Charles Cholmondeley
- Lady Mary Cholmondeley, wife of Captain Charles Cholmondeley