Primrose

This very interesting name is of pure Scottish origin and derives from 'the lands of primrose' in Dunfermline. The spelling is Old British pre 8th century and probably translates as 'the enclosure on the moor' from Penn-Rhos. The surname first appears in the 14th century although the original land charter was originally dated some two hundred years earlier. The name was never common but in 1700 Archibald Primrose of Carrinton was created Viscount Primrose, and later Earl of Rosebery. The name development has included Primeroose (1653 Stockholm) Prymrose (1569 Culross). The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Prymros which was dated 1387 Mason of St. Giles Church, Edinburgh during the reign of King Robert 11 of Scotland 1371 - 1390. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.