Surname Learmonth - Meaning and Origin
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Learmonth: What does the surname Learmonth mean?
The last name Learmonth is an English habitational name, derived from a location in the East Riding of Yorkshire, having derived from the Old English term ‘leah’ meaning a forest clearing and ‘mund’ meaning protection. This place-name would also be used to denote a person from this location.
The place itself is first found in historical records of 1182 as 'Lauremonth', while an early record of the surname itself dates from 1331, when one William de Lauermonth was noted in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland. Other early records of the name include a mention of Thomas, Simon, Thomas, and Richard Larynmonth who were recorded in Cumberland, Northumberland and the West Riding of Yorkshire respectively.
Due to the significant presence of Anglo Saxon influence in the British Isles, the surname is most common in England, though it can also be found in Scotland and Australia. Over time, the spelling of the name has changed quite significantly, and so variations of the name Learmonth may include Laermonth, Learmnethe, Larmonth, Laromont, and Larmac.
The Learmonth surname can also be found in heraldry, and the earliest record found in this area dates back to 1560 in London, where a William Larmonth was recorded as a 'blewe-marler'. The arms depicted a blue shield with a white chief surmounted by a gold lace, and three silver parns in saltire.
Order DNA origin analysisLearmonth: Where does the name Learmonth come from?
The last name Learmonth is a common surname in the United Kingdom and some parts of the British Commonwealth. It is also prevalent in other parts of Europe, especially in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Scotland, in particular, has a number of places with the name Learmonth, such as Learmonth, a small village near Loch Leven in the Perth and Kinross council area.
The Learmonth name is derived from the Gaelic personal name Loughman, a form of the given name Lewis. It is also found in continental Europe, particularly in Germany, as Lormont. The name dates back to at least the 14th century when Dunbar de Learmonth held the hereditary office of Admiral of Scotland.
In Australia, Learmonth is predominantly found in eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales. With the influx of Scottish immigration to Australia during the late 19th century, the surname is now Oceania's fifth most common Scottish name. There are also several places in Australia named after the Learmonth family, including Mount Learmonth in the Grampians, and Learmonth, a small town in Western Australia.
In the United States, the name is of more recent vintage, having been borne by pioneers of the early 20th century. Today, the surname is found mainly in the Midwest and the West Coast. Areas with higher populations of Learmonths include Oregon, Utah, and northern California, as well as parts of Arizona and New Mexico.
Variations of the surname Learmonth
The surname Learmonth can be found in a few different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Learmonth itself is derived from a Gaelic place-name meaning ‘learmouth’, referring to a round hill at the mouth of a river.
Variants of this surname include Learmond, Lairmont, Learman, Lairman, Learmont, Larmont, Lairamont, Leirmont, Leremeal, Learmeill, Lemouel, Levant, and many more.
The limited number of Learmonth records found in Scotland prior to the late 15th century suggests the surname was probably imported there by Lowland families of Norman descent, such as the Ramsays, Lindsays, and Douglases.
Surnames of the same origin as Learmonth include Alexander, MacArthur, Moffat, MacNamee, and MacAlister. These surnames have similar origins as Learmonth, derived either from their ancient Gaelic place-name roots, or from the Mac prefix meaning 'son of', which indicated a connection to the earliest members of the tribe.
Other surnames derived from the same origin include MacLaren, MacCauley, MacHale, MacLehose, MacMillan, MacLeod, and MacQuarrie. All of these surnames have the ancient Gaelic origin of learmouth, meaning 'round hill'.
In addition to these variants of Learmonth and its related surnames of the same origin, anglicized forms of the surname have also been found. All are derived from the Gaelic of ‘Lerimond’, and include MacLaren, MacCormick, Lermont, and MacKerron.
Overall, there are many different variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin as Learmonth, displaying its long and varied history.
Famous people with the name Learmonth
- Lewis Learmonth: Professional footballer who most recently represented Blyth Spartans
- Shaun Learmonth: British 400m runner who represented his country at the 2008 Olympic Games
- David Learmonth: Scottish actor
- James Learmonth: Professional squash player
- Steve Learmonth: English Footballer
- Debra Learmonth: Canadian medical doctor with expertise in medical genetics
- Geordie Learmonth: English mixed-media artist
- Michael Learmonth: American journalist
- Robert Learmonth: Australian male wheelchair basketballer
- Joel Learmonth: Australian professional motorcycle racer