Almer
Major Settlement in the Parish of Almer
Historical Forms
- of elmere, on elmere 943 ShaftR(S490) 15
- Elmerham 1166 RBE
- Elmer 1211 Cur
- Elmere, Elmera 1211 ib
- Almer(e) 1212 Fees 1227 FF 1228 Cl 1231 FF 1235–6 Fees 1246 Ipm
- Au(e)mer(e) 1244 Ass
- Allemer(e) l13 Wim
- Ailmer(e) 1270 ChrP 1372
- Aylmer(e) 1288 Ass
- Alme 1434 Midd
- Almor(e) 1244 Ass 1664 HTax 1692 Weld1
- Westalmere e14 Wim
- West Almere 1408 FF
Etymology
'Eel pool', v. ǣl , mere 1 , with reference to a pool on R. Winterborne just SE of the village, cf. Elmer Sx 142; the pool is no doubt that called Almer Pond 1844TA and that referred to in mesuagium desuper Le Mere , Merfurlong l13, William de la Mere 1295, e14 all Wim , Reginald de la Mere 1327SR , John atte Mere 1332 SR, v. furlang , atte . The 943 forms occur (with reference to the pool) as the starting and finishing points in the bounds of Mapperton infra , which in OE times and in DB was the name of the estate later comprising the modern par. of Almer.Elmerham 1166 may mean 'homestead, or enclosure, at Elmer ', v. hām , hamm . Au (e )mere shows AN vocalization of l , v. ANInfl 146f. Almor (e ) shows confusion of the second el. with mōr 'moor'. West - distinguishes this place from the adjacent East Almer in Sturminster M. par. supra , v. west .