Recorded in several forms including Bream, Breem, Brim, Brims, Brimm and probably others, this is an early English medieval surname. It is however of much earlier origins, probably pre 6th century, and deriving from the word "breme" meaning fierce or vigorous, or under certain circumstrances famous or noble. It is one of originally a large group of names were based upon the virtues of personal strength and power, at a time in history known as "The Dark Ages" when it was certainly needed. After the Norman Invasion of England in 1066, former Saxon names such as this one, were given the boot as not being politically correct, and those that survived took another hammering in the 12th century, when the returning Crusader knights and pilgrims from the Holy Land brought back biblical and Geek names and scattered them amongst their children.
These, the Mathew, mark Luke and John syndrome, rapidly gained control of the "name" market. This (sur)name however managed to survive, probably because the early recordings suggest that nameholders were in East Anglia. Until the 15th century this was a region of swamps and marshes, which most people, including the Normans, tried to keep away from. As examples of recordings we have Breme of Suffolk in the Domesday Book of 1086, whilst Hugo Brem appears in the court rolls of Warwick in 1221, and Simon Brim in the Hundred Rolls of land owners of Cambridgeshire in 1279
Research into the possible origins of brim leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname brim is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.
There is a considerable probability that brim has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where brim is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname brim provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.
The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named brim are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname brim, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of brim developed.
It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of brim could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about brim and send it to us, we will update it on this website.
We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname brim, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname brim were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.
The bibliography collects information related to the surname brim, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of brim are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of brim, and at the same time, of surnames in general.