Steven Latimer

Notes for STEPHEN LATIMER: ORGIN OF NAME -- LATIMER The name Latimer is derived from the ancient Norman word, "latinier", meaning a speaker of Latin or an interpreter. The Latimers or Lattiners came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. William De Lattiner, from whom we claim descent, was a standard bearer for William the Conqueror. The name is found in ancient English and early American records in the various forms of le Latiner, Lattimore, Lattimer, Latimore, Latimer and others.

Branches of the ancient family were to be found in the Counties of Devon, Dorset, York, Somerset, Leicester, Worcester, Gloucester, Northampton and Suffolk. Early records of the name show Hugo Latinarius in 1086; Alan le Latimer in 1273; William Latymer in 1513 and William Lord Latimer who was living in North Trent, Yorkshire in the 12th century.

Among the first of the name to settle in America were; (1) Robert Latimer, a mariner, who came to Boston on the "Hopewell" in 1655 and later moved to New London, Connecticut, (2) Clement Lattimore of the Isle of Wight County, Virginia in 1642, (3) Hugh Latimore of Northumberland County, Virginia in 1632 and (4) Arthur Latimer, a Scotch-Irishman, who came from Ireland in 1736 and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It has not been established as to which of the lines, if either, gave descent to the Stephen Latimer who made his home in Charles County, Maryland about the end of the 17th century.

Although bearers of the old and distinguished Latimer name comprise a small fraction of the population there are a number who have established for it a significant place in history. They include: Hugh Latimer (1485-1555) Bishop of Worchester who was Master of Theology for Oxford from 1530. In 1530, he preached before Henry VIII at Windsor; and, in 1548, preached his famous sermon "of the plough"; was sent to Oxford with Ridley and Cranmer to defend his views before the leading Divines of the University in 1554; and, in 1555, was condemned as a heretic and burnt in Oxford with Ridley. William Latimer (1460-1545) Classical scholar who was a Fellow of All Soul's College in Oxford in 1489. He did extensive studying at Padua; received his M.A. from Oxford in 1513; and, the duration of his life worked as a Tutor to Reginald Cardinal Pole. Henry Latimer (1752-1819) Senator and Congressman who served as surgeon during the Revolutionary War. Between 1787 and 1788, and again 1790, he was member of the Deleware House; became Speaker of the House in 1790; was a member of the U.S. House in the 3rd Congress between 1794 and 1795; and, from 1795 to 1801, was a member of the U.S. Senate. Mary Elizabeth Wormeley Latimer (1822-1904) Authoress who published her first novel in England, and after completing two other novels, did magazine work until after 1856. Her most famous works include, "Amabel", "Our Cousin Veronica", and "Russia and Turkey in the XIXth Century". Our line is believed to derive its descent from the Bishop Hugh Latimer family of England. (See "Men of Mark in South Carolina", Volume 1, Page 212, Hemphill)