Orme Meaning in English
The word Orme has several meanings across languages, but its English and genealogical significance comes from the Old Norse word ormr, meaning serpent, dragon, or worm-like creature. The name arrived in Britain with Viking settlers and later became a well-established English surname.
In medieval England, Orme appears frequently as a personal name and as a surname, especially in regions influenced by Norse occupation, such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and parts of Scotland.
Orme in Other Languages
French
In French, orme means elm tree. Example: un orme = an elm.
Italian
In Italian, orme is the plural of orma, meaning: footprints, tracks, traces.
Example: le orme sulla sabbia = footprints in the sand.
Old Norse / Scandinavian Origins
The Old Norse word ormr means: serpent, dragon, worm.
This is the source of the English surname Orme and of various place names.
Orme in English Place Names
The Great Orme — the well-known headland in Llandudno, Wales.
Ormesby — “village of Orme.”
Ormiston — “Orme’s farm” or “Orme’s settlement.”
Orme as a Surname
The surname Orme appears in English records from as early as the 11th century. Often the name was given to families associated with Viking settlements, coastal regions, or serpent-shaped hills and ridges.
Many medieval records reference individuals named Orm, Ormr or Orme, including:
Orme of Hovingham - Yorkshire, 1086
Ormr Stórólfsson - appearing in Norse saga material
Orme Fitz-Ailsi - a landholder recorded in Durham