Elmer is a name of Germanic

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

origin. The given name originated as a surname, a medieval variant of the given name Aylmer, derived from

Old English Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...

''æþel'' (noble) and ''mær'' (famous). It was adopted as a given name in the United States, "in honor of the popularity of the brothers Ebenezer and

Jonathan Elmer Jonathan Elmer (November 29, 1745September 3, 1817) was an American politician, of the Pro-Administration (Federalist) Party. Early life Jonathan Elmer was born in Cedarville, New Jersey, in 1745. He was the son of Reverend Daniel Elmer and Abig ...

, leading supporters of the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

". The name has declined in popularity since the first decades of the 20th century and fell out of the top 1,000 names used for American boys in 2009. However, it continues in use for newborn boys in the United States, where 167 boys born there in 2022 received the name. The name is common in the United States and Canada. Elmar, a variant, was among the 10 most popular names for newborn boys in

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

in 2021. Notable people with the name include:

Mononym

Eilmer of Malmesbury Eilmer of Malmesbury (also known as Oliver due to a scribe's miscopying, or Elmer, or Æthelmær) was an 11th-century English Benedictine monk best known for his early attempt at a gliding flight using wings. Life Eilmer was a monk of Malme ...

(or Elmer), 11th-century English Benedictine monk *

Elmer (rapper) Merel Pauw (Amsterdam, 13 March 1995), known professionally as Elmer, is a Dutch rapper, musician, producer, and actor, who performs in Dutch. Pauw launched her musical career in 2021 when she released the single "Je vader" (''Your Father''). Si ...

, Dutch rapper Merel Pauw * In North American amateur radio subculture, an ''

Elmer Elmer is a name of Germanic British origin. The given name originated as a surname, a medieval variant of the given name Aylmer, derived from Old English ''æþel'' (noble) and ''mær'' (famous). It was adopted as a given name in the United State ...

'' is a mentor to a newcoming amateur radio operatorThe term first appeared in the March, 1971 issue of '' QST'' magazine's "How's DX" column by Rod Newkirk, W9BRD (now also VA3ZBB). Newkirk called them "the unsung fathers of Amateur Radio." While he probably was not trying to coin a term at the time, here's how Newkirk introduced "Elmer" in his column and, as it turned out, to the rest of the amateur radio world: "Too frequently one hears a sad story in this little nutshell: 'Oh, I almost got a ticket, too, but Elmer, W9XYZ, moved away and I kind of lost interest.'" Newkirk went on to say, "We need those Elmers. All the Elmers, including the ham who took the most time and trouble to give you a push toward your license, are the birds who keep this great game young and fresh."

Given name

* Elmer L. Andersen (1909–2004), American businessman, philanthropist, and the 30th governor of Minnesota *

Elmer Austin Elmer M. Austin Jr. (December 11, 1949 – December 28, 2023) was an American basketball player. He played college basketball for the North Carolina A&T Aggies and was the inaugural Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the ...

(1949–2023), American basketball player *

Elmer Batters Elmer Albert Batters (November 24, 1919 – June 25, 1997) was a pioneer fetish photographer who specialized in capturing artful images of women with an emphasis on Underwear fetishism#Stockings and Pantyhose, stockings, legs, and feet, placing h ...

(1919-1997), American fetish photographer *

Elmer Bernstein Elmer Bernstein ( '; April 4, 1922August 18, 2004) was an American composer and conductor. In a career that spanned over five decades, he composed "some of the most recognizable and memorable themes in Hollywood history", including over 150 orig ...

(1922–2004), American composer *

Elmer Bischoff Elmer Nelson Bischoff (July 9, 1916 – March 2, 1991), was an American visual artist, from the San Francisco Bay Area. Bischoff, along with Richard Diebenkorn and David Park (painter), David Park, was part of the post-World War II generation of ...

(1916–1991), American painter * W. Elmer Brandon (1906–1956), Canadian politician, known by his middle name *

Elmer Davis Elmer Holmes Davis (January 13, 1890 – May 18, 1958) was an American news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient. Early life and career Davis was born i ...

(1890–1958), American news reporter, author, director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II *

Elmer Dessens Elmer Dessens Jusaino eh-SENZ(born January 13, 1971) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). Personal life Elmer Dessens was born on January 13, 1971, in Hermosillo, Mexico. At age 10, he worked as a n ...

(born 1971), major league baseball relief pitcher *

Elmer Diktonius Elmer Rafael Diktonius (20 January 1896 – 23 September 1961) was a Finland, Finnish poet and composer, who wrote in both Swedish language, Swedish and in Finnish language, Finnish. He was born in Helsinki. In 1922, he established an avant-gar ...

(1896–1961), Finnish writer and composer * Elmer E. Ellsworth (1837–1861), lawyer and soldier, and the first conspicuous casualty of the American Civil War *

Elmer Flick Elmer Harrison Flick (January 11, 1876 – January 9, 1971) was an American professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1898 to 1910 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cleveland Bronchos/Nap ...

(1876–1971), American hall-of-fame baseball player *

Elemér Gorondy-Novák Elemér Gorondy-Novák (''Novák''; 23 February 1885 – 14 May 1954) was a Hungarian military officer, who served as commander of the Hungarian Third Army during the Second World War. Career After the First World War he served as chief of ...

(1885–1954), Hungarian military officer, who served as commander of the Hungarian Third Army during the Second World War, leader of Hungarian forces during Invasion of Yugoslavia *

Elmer Gedeon Elmer John Gedeon (April 15, 1917 – April 20, 1944) was an American professional baseball player, appearing in several games for the Washington Senators (1901–60), Washington Senators in . Gedeon and Harry O'Neill (catcher), Harry O'Neill wer ...

(1917–1944), American baseball player *

Elmer Grey Elmer Grey, FAIA (April 29, 1872 – November 14, 1963) was an Americans, American architect and artist based in Pasadena, California. Grey designed many noted landmarks in Southern California, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Huntingto ...

(1872–1963), American architect and artist *

Elmer E. Hall Elmer Edwards Hall (April 20, 1890 – September 22, 1958) was a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps who commanded 8th Marine Regiment during the Battle of Tarawa. Early years Elmer E. Hall was born on April 20, 1890, in ...

, brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps *

Elmer Beseler Harris Elmer Beseler Harris (April 8, 1939 – December 23, 2019) was an American businessman and political strategist. Elmer Harris was born in Chilton County, Alabama, to Alton and Lera Mae (Mitchell) Harris. After getting a BS degree in enginee ...

(1939–2019), American businessman and politician * Elmer

Cameron Hawley Elmer Cameron Hawley (September 19, 1905 – February 9, 1969) was an American writer of fiction from Howard, South Dakota. Much of Hawley's output concerned the pressures of modern life, particularly in a business setting. He published numero ...

(1905–1969), American novelist *

Elmer Keith Elmer Merrifield Keith (March 8, 1899 – February 14, 1984) was an American rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum (1935), as well as the la ...

(1899–1984), American firearms cartridge designer and author *

Elmer Kelton Elmer Kelton (April 29, 1926Kelton, Elmer (2007). - ''Sandhills Boy: The Winding Trail of a Texas Writer''. - New York, New York: Forge. - p.26. - . – August 22, 2009) was an American author, known for his Westerns. He was born in Andrews ...

(1926–2009), American journalist and writer, particularly of Western novels *

Elmer Lach Elmer James Lach ( , January 22, 1918 – April 4, 2015) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 14 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL). A Centre (ice hockey), centre, he was a member of the Pun ...

(1918–2015), Canadian ice hockey player *

Elmer Layden Elmer Francis Layden (May 4, 1903 – June 30, 1973) was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, Notre Dame Fi ...

(1903–1973), commissioner of the National Football League and head football coach at the University of Notre Dame * Elmer Lowry (1919–1989), American actor and vaudevillian *

Elmer MacKay Elmer MacIntosh MacKay (born August 5, 1936) is a former Canadian politician. Life and career MacKay was born in Hopewell, Nova Scotia, the son of Laura Louise (Macintosh) and Gordon Barclay MacKay. He was first elected to the House of Commo ...

(born 1936), Canadian politician * Elmer McCurdy (1880–1911), American outlaw whose corpse was put on exhibit *

Elmer Drew Merrill Elmer Drew Merrill (October 15, 1876 – February 25, 1956) was an American botanist and taxonomist. He spent more than twenty years in the Philippines where he became a recognized authority on the flora of the Asia-Pacific region. Through ...

(1876–1956), American botanist * Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt (1947–2011), Vietnam veteran and high-ranking member of the Black Panther Party *

Elmer Rees Elmer Gethin Rees, (19 November 1941 – 4 October 2019) was a Welsh mathematician with publications in areas ranging from topology, differential geometry, algebraic geometry, linear algebra and Morse theory to robotics. He held the post of Dir ...

(1941–2019), Welsh mathematician *

Elmer Rice Elmer Rice (born Elmer Leopold Reizenstein, September 28, 1892 – May 8, 1967) was an American playwright. He is best known for his plays '' The Adding Machine'' (1923) and his Pulitzer Prize-winning drama of New York tenement life, '' Street Sce ...

(1892–1967), American playwright *

Elmer Riddle Elmer Ray Riddle (July 31, 1914 – May 14, 1984) was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he appeared in all or parts of ten Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons (1939–45; 1947–49) for the Cincinnati Reds and Pit ...

(1914–1984), baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds *

Elmer Snowden Elmer Chester Snowden (October 9, 1900 – May 14, 1973) was an American banjo player of the jazz age. He also played guitar and, in the early stages of his career, all the reed instruments. He contributed greatly to jazz in its early days as bo ...

(1900–1973), American jazz musician *

Elmer Söderblom Elmer Söderblom (born 5 July 2001) is a Swedish professional ice hockey left winger for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Söderblom was drafted 159th overall by the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Playing care ...

(born 2001), Swedish ice hockey player *

Elmer Ambrose Sperry Elmer Ambrose Sperry Sr. (October 12, 1860 – June 16, 1930) was an American inventor and entrepreneur, most famous for construction, two years after Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe, of the gyrocompass and as founder of the Sperry Corporation, Sperry ...

(1860–1930), American inventor and entrepreneur * Elmer Steele (1886–1966), American baseball player *

Elmer Valo Elmer William Valo (March 5, 1921 – July 19, 1998), born Imrich Valo, was a Slovak American professional baseball right fielder, coach, and scout in Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Playing in the maj ...

(1921–1998), major league baseball player, coach, and scout *

Uncle Elmer Stanley C. Fraizer (August 16, 1937 – July 1, 1992), also known as Plowboy Frazier, was an American professional wrestler. He was primarily a regional gimmick wrestler, employed for his massive size and unique personality. He is best known as ...

(1937–1992), American wrestler, born Stanley Frazier

Surname

* Adolph D. E. Elmer (1870–1942), American botanist whose standard author abbreviation is Elmer * Birger Elmér (1919–1999), Swedish military and intelligence officer, head of the Swedish secret intelligence agency, known as IB (1965–1975) *

Charles Elmer Charles Wesley Elmer (1872–1954) was an American amateur astronomer and court reporter who co-founded the Perkin-Elmer optical company in 1937. He was born in New York City, and for most of his life he was employed as a court reporter. However, ...

(1872–1954), American amateur astronomer, co-founder of the Perkin-Elmer optical company *

Ebenezer Elmer Ebenezer Elmer (August 23, 1752 – October 18, 1843) was an American physician from Bridgeton, New Jersey. He represented New Jersey in the U.S. Congress from the Democratic-Republican Party from 1801 to 1807. Elmer's older brother, Jonathan Elm ...

(1752–1843), American politician and physician * Edwin Romanzo Elmer (1850–1923), American painter * Emma Osterman Elmer (1867–1956), American librarian and author * Greg Elmer (born 1967), British-born Professor of Professional Communication at Ryerson University * James Elmer (born 1971), Australian Olympic field hockey striker *

James C. Elmer James Chester Elmer (January 21, 1882 – April 30, 1920) was a college football player and once sheriff of Harrison County, Mississippi. Auburn University He was a prominent guard and center for the Auburn Tigers of Alabama Polytechnic In ...

(1882–1920), American college football player * John Elmer (footballer) (1905–1993), Australian rules footballer *

Jonas Elmer (director) Jonas Elmer (born 14 March 1966) is a Denmark, Danish film director, screenwriter and previously an actor. In 1988 he was a production assistant at the set of ''Family Business (1989 film), Family Business'', starring Sean Connery. Elmer gradu ...

(born 1966), Danish film director, screenwriter and actor * Jonas Elmer (born 1988), Swiss footballer *

(1745–1817), American politician * Kenneth Elmer (born 1948), Canadian Olympic middle-distance runner * Lachlan Elmer (born 1969), Australian Olympic field hockey player *

Lucius Elmer Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer (February 3, 1793 – March 11, 1883) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S. Congress from 1843 to 1845. He was son of Ebenezer Elmer ...

(1793–1883), American Democratic politician, U.S. Representative from New Jersey (1843–1845) * Philip Elmer-DeWitt (born 1949), American computer journalist *

Rico Elmer Rico Elmer (born 23 July 1969) is a Switzerland, Swiss ski mountaineer and Mountain running, mountain runner. Elmer was born in Elm, Glarus, village of Elm in the canton of Glarus. He first competed in the Patrouille des Glaciers event in 1996 a ...

(born 1969), Swiss ski mountaineer and mountain runner *

Rudolf Elmer Rudolf Elmer (born 1 November 1955) is a Swiss private banker, whistleblower, and activist. He worked as a banker at Julius Bär from the 1980s to his dismissal in 2002. At this time, he was head of the bank's Caribbean operations for eight year ...

, Swiss banker, whistleblower who released documents about Swiss bank Julius Bär * Stephen Elmer (baptised 1715–1796), English painter * Terri-Rae Elmer (born 1956), Los Angeles radio broadcaster *

Wally Elmer Wallace Druce Elmer (January 1, 1898 – August 28, 1978) was a professional ice hockey player who played in the Western Canada Hockey League. He played with the Saskatoon Crescents/Sheiks and Victoria Cougars. He won Stanley Cup The S ...

(1898–1978), Canadian ice hockey player *

William Elmer William Elmer (April 25, 1869 – February 24, 1945) was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1913 and 1942. He was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa and died in Hollywood, California. Elmer acted in ...

(1869–1945), American silent film actor * William P. Elmer (1871–1956), U.S. Representative from Missouri (1943–1945)

Fictional characters

Elmer the Patchwork Elephant ''Elmer the Patchwork Elephant'' (often shortened to Elmer) is a children's picture book series by the British author David McKee. The books ''Elmer'' was first published by Dobson Books in 1968, and re-issued with re-drawn illustrations in a ...

, the title character in a series of children's picture books by David McKee * ''

'', a comic book by Gerry Alanguilan * Elmer, a fictional bull, "husband" of

Elsie the Cow Elsie the Cow is a cartoon cow developed as a mascot for the Borden Dairy Company in 1936 to symbolize the "perfect dairy product". Since the demise of Borden in the mid-1990s, the character has continued to be used in the same capacity for the ...

, namesake of Elmer's Glue * Elmer, a character from

The Fairly OddParents ''The Fairly OddParents'' is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon. The series follows the adventures of Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old boy with two Fairy godmother, fairy godparents named List of The Fai ...

* Elmer Bennett, the protagonist of the 2019 short drama film ''

Abigail Abigail () was an Israelite woman in the Hebrew Bible married to Nabal; she married the future King David after Nabal's death (1 Samuel ). Abigail was David's third wife, after Ahinoam and Saul's daughter, Michal, whom Saul later married to ...

'' *

Elmer Fudd Elmer J. Fudd is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes''/''Merrie Melodies'' series and the archenemy of Bugs Bunny. Elmer Fudd's aim is to hunt Bugs, but he usually ends up seriously injuring himself and other antag ...

, a Looney Tunes character *

Elmer Elephant ''Elmer Elephant'' is a ''Silly Symphonies'' animated short film produced by Walt Disney, directed by Wilfred Jackson and released on March 28, 1936. Plot Elmer Elephant arrives in the yard below Tillie Tiger's treehouse, where several other ...

, the titular character of a Disney ''Silly Symphonies'' short *

Elmer Gantry ''Elmer Gantry'' is a 1927 satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis that presents aspects of the religious activity of the United States in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. Reverend Dr. ...

, the title character in a novel by Sinclair Lewis * Elmer C. Albatross, in the

Baccano! is a Japanese light novel series written by Ryohgo Narita and illustrated by Katsumi Enami. The series, told from multiple Narrative mode, points of view, is mostly set within a fictional United States across time most notably the Prohib ...

light novel series * Elmer, the ventriloquist dummy used by Western film actor

Max Terhune Max Terhune (February 12, 1891 – June 5, 1973) was an American actor. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956. Among these, Terhune starred in '' The Three Mesquiteers'' and '' Range Busters'' series. B ...

* Elmer, on ''

Pappyland ''Pappyland'' is an American half-hour children's television series written by Jon Nappa and broadcast on WCNY-TV in Syracuse, New York, and other PBS stations from 1993 to 1996. Thereafter, the show was moved to TLC and began airing new episod ...

'' * Elmer Phitts, a character in the Brandon Rogers Cinematic Universe

Notes

{{given name, type=both Masculine given names English masculine given names

Mononym

Given name

Surname

Fictional characters

See also

Notes