Apparently, derived from the Middle English 'Trim', the word was probably job descriptive for one who ballasted a vessel, or dressed timbers to smooth them. The 'Trimming' of garments and cloth seems to be a much later derivation, probably 16th Century. As a surname 'Trimming' seems to be a variant spelling through Trimmin or Trimen, names which mean 'The Son of Trim' i.e., Trim-Kin or Little Trim, Henry Trimen being a prominent Victorian botanist. The following examples illustrate the name development after the first recording (see below), Elizabeth Trimminge (1597 London), Mary Tryminge (1637, London), Ann Trimming married William Bracy on November 13th 1737 at Great Yarmouth, and Mary Trimming married Justice Jones on May 25th 1754 at St. Luke's, Old Street, Finsbury. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William le Trymmare, which was dated 1327, The Pipe Rolls of Hampshire, during the reign of King Edward 111, 'The Father of the Navy', 1327 - 1377. 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.

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