Mortimer

English

Alternative forms

• Mortymer

Etymology

A habitational surname from Mortemer in France, from Old Northern French, literally meaning “dead pond”.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔːtɪmə/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɔɹtəmɚ/

Proper noun

Mortimer

1. A British surname from Old French.
   • c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii]:

     He said he would not ransom Mortimer; / Forbade my tongue to speak of Mortimer; / But I will find him when he lies asleep, / And in his ear I'll holla ‘Mortimer!’

2. A male given name transferred from the surname.
   • 1941, Delmore Schwartz, Shenandoah, New Directions, page 13:

     I like the names Herbert and Mortimer more all the time. They are so distinguished and new and American. Do you know how I came to think of them? I was reading the newspaper in bed after my first boy was born. I was reading the society page, which is always so interesting.

3. A village in Stratfield Mortimer parish, West Berkshire district, Berkshire, England, otherwise known as Mortimer Common (OS grid ref SU6564).
4. A ghost town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States.
5. An unincorporated community in Allen Township, Hancock County, Ohio, United States.
6. A community in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada.

Derived terms

• Cleobury Mortimer
• Mortimer's Cross
• Stratfield Mortimer

Related terms

• Mort
• Morty