Fun Facts About the Name Lorimer
- 66 babies named Lorimer: U.S. records list 66 babies given the name Lorimer from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Lorimer Mean?
Lorimer is an occupational name meaning "bridle and harness maker," from Old French lorimier, a maker of bits, spurs, and the metal fittings of horse harness. That word comes from Old French lorain ("bridle, rein, strap"), which traces back to Latin lorum ("strap, thong"). The ending is the French agent suffix -ier, so the literal sense is "one who works with straps" - in practice the smith who made and finished the metal parts of a horse's bridle. The related English word loriner names the same trade, and the same occupation lies behind the London livery company known as the Loriners' Company.
Lorimer Name History & Origins
Lorimer belongs to the large group of English and Scottish surnames taken from a trade. It reached Britain through Norman French after the Norman Conquest, when lorimier was the standard word for a craftsman who made bridle bits, spurs, buckles, and similar small ironwork for horses. Because the occupation was widespread in medieval towns, the surname arose more than once and independently, so not every family called Lorimer need descend from a single ancestor.
The name is especially associated with Scotland, where it appears as a surname from the medieval period onward; the spelling Lorimer and the variant Lorrimer both occur, and the older trade form Loriner survives as a rarer surname. Scottish bearers include the architect Sir Robert Lorimer (1864 - 1929), whose surname reflects this old occupational stock rather than a place name. In England the name is found chiefly as a surname, with the spelling Lorymer occasionally recorded.
As a given name, Lorimer is a transferred use of the surname and remains uncommon. It appears mostly in English-speaking countries and is used for both boys and girls, though it is far more familiar as a family name than as a first name.
How Popular is the Name Lorimer?
Lorimer has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1924. Its best rank was #2,563 in 1914.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | #3,953 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1932 | #3,255 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1929 | #3,796 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1924 | #3,157 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1922 | #4,124 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #4,713 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1917 | #4,329 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1916 | #3,374 | 7 | 0.0008% |
| 1915 | #2,964 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #2,563 | 8 | 0.0012% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with L
How the Name Lorimer Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You always bring to completion anything you start. You are generous but like to see returns from your giving. You have an executive ability, you are a leader. You are moral, balanced, honest and intellectual, and you may attain spirituality. You are wise and practical with an appreciation of beauty. You always think before you act. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Lorimer's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Lorimer's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.