talk report - february 2006
22 February: Mrs Gladys Armstrong - Rimmers One and All
Mrs Armstrong gave us a very entertaining talk about her researches into her family connections to the Rimmer family. She had traced her family tree and all her connections came from within three miles of where she lives in Southport. There are also links with Virginia in the USA. Both her parents were Rimmers. 'Rimmer' is a very localised name to the Southport area. It is of very old origin, possibly Norse, and means 'a dweller on the rim of the mere': Is this the truth? Could it be an occupational name coming from 'rhymer' a poet or story teller: Or could it be 'rimmer' - one who puts rims on casks or barrels: 'Reamer' were Dutch navvies who drained the Norfolk Fens. Mrs Armstrong is convinced of its Viking origin. In the 1881 Census there were 4794 Rimmers listed in England and Wales of these 4261 were living in Lancashire with a further 247 in Cheshire. As a result of her researches and her website she has founded the Rimmer Family History Society. This started as a get together on 22 August 2002 when 125 Rimmers met. Subsequently the RFHS was formed in October 2004 with its 5th get together to be held on 22 October 2006 as a joint reunion and AGM. All those with an interest in the family are welcome.