Elmer is a name of Germanic British origin. The given name originated as a surname, a medieval variant of the given name Aylmer, derived from Old English ''æþel'' (noble) and ''mær'' (famous). It was adopted as a given name in the United States, "in honor of the popularity of the brothers Ebenezer and

Jonathan Elmer Jonathan Elmer (November 29, 1745September 3, 1817) was an American politician, of the Pro-Administration ( Federalist) Party. Early life Jonathan Elmer was born in Cedarville, New Jersey, in 1745. He was the son of Reverend Daniel Elmer and Abi ...

, leading supporters of the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolu ...

." The name has declined in popularity since the first decades of the 20th century and fell out of the top 1,000 names used for American boys in 2009. However, it continues in use for newborn boys in the United States, where 154 boys born there in 2021 received the name. The name is common in the United States and Canada. Notable people with the name include:

Mononym

Eilmer of Malmesbury Eilmer of Malmesbury (also known as Oliver due to a scribe's miscopying, or Elmer, or Æthelmær) was an 11th-century English Benedictine monk best known for his early attempt at a gliding flight using wings. Life Eilmer was a monk of Malme ...

(or Elmer), 11th-century English Benedictine monk * In the amateur radio subculture, an '' Elmer'' is a mentor to a newcoming amateur radio operatorThe term first appeared in the March, 1971 issue of '' QST'' magazine's "How's DX" column by Rod Newkirk, W9BRD (now also VA3ZBB). Newkirk called them "the unsung fathers of Amateur Radio." While he probably was not trying to coin a term at the time, here's how Newkirk introduced "Elmer" in his column and, as it turned out, to the rest of the amateur radio world: "Too frequently one hears a sad story in this little nutshell: 'Oh, I almost got a ticket, too, but Elmer, W9XYZ, moved away and I kind of lost interest.'" Newkirk went on to say, "We need those Elmers. All the Elmers, including the ham who took the most time and trouble to give you a push toward your license, are the birds who keep this great game young and fresh."

Given name

* Elmer L. Andersen (1909–2004), American businessman, philanthropist, and the 30th governor of Minnesota *

Elmer Bernstein Elmer Bernstein ( '; April 4, 1922August 18, 2004) was an American composer and conductor. In a career that spanned over five decades, he composed "some of the most recognizable and memorable themes in Hollywood history", including over 150 origi ...

(1922–2004), American composer * Elmer Bischoff (1916–1991), American painter * W. Elmer Brandon (1906–1956), Canadian politician, known by his middle name *

Elmer Davis Elmer Holmes Davis (January 13, 1890 – May 18, 1958) was an American news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient. Early life and career Davis was born ...

(1890–1958), news reporter, author, director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II * Elmer Dessens (born 1971), major league baseball relief pitcher * Elmer Diktonius (1896–1961), Finnish writer and composer * Elmer E. Ellsworth (1837–1861), lawyer and soldier, and the first conspicuous casualty of the American Civil War * Elmer Flick (1876–1971), American hall-of-fame baseball player * Elemér Gorondy-Novák (1885–1954), Hungarian military officer, who served as commander of the Hungarian Third Army during the Second World War, leader of Hungarian forces during

Invasion of Yugoslavia The invasion of Yugoslavia, also known as the April War or Operation 25, or ''Projekt 25'' was a German-led attack on the Kingdom of Yugoslavia by the Axis powers which began on 6 April 1941 during World War II. The order for the invasion was p ...

Elmer Gedeon Elmer John Gedeon (April 15, 1917 – April 20, 1944) was an American professional baseball player, appearing in several games for the Washington Senators in . Gedeon and Harry O'Neill were the only two Major League Baseball players killed duri ...

(1917–1944), American baseball player *

Elmer Grey Elmer Grey, FAIA (April 29, 1872 – November 14, 1963) was an American architect and artist based in Pasadena, California. Grey designed many noted landmarks in Southern California, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Huntington Art Gall ...

(1872–1963), American architect and artist *

Elmer E. Hall Elmer Edwards Hall (April 20, 1890 – September 22, 1958) was a Brigadier general (United States), brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps who commanded 8th Marine Regiment (United States), 8th Marine Regiment during the Battle ...

, brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps *

Elmer Beseler Harris Elmer Beseler Harris (April 8, 1939 – December 23, 2019) was an American businessman and political strategist. Elmer Harris was born in Chilton County, Alabama, to Alton and Lera Mae (Mitchell) Harris. After getting a BS degree in engineeri ...

(1939–2019), American businessman and politician * Elmer

Cameron Hawley Cameron Hawley (September 19, 1905 – February 9, 1969) was an American writer of fiction from Howard, South Dakota. Much of Hawley's output concerned the pressures of modern life, particularly in a business setting. He published numerous nove ...

(1905–1969), American novelist *

Elmer Keith Elmer Merrifield Keith (March 8, 1899 – February 12, 1984) was an American rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum, as well as the later .44 ...

(1899–1984), American firearms cartridge designer and author *

Elmer Kelton Elmer Stephen Kelton (April 29, 1926Kelton, Elmer (2007). - ''Sandhills Boy: The Winding Trail of a Texas Writer''. - New York, New York: Forge. - p.26. - . – August 22, 2009) was an American journalist and writer, known particularly for hi ...

(1926–2009), American journalist and writer, particularly of Western novels *

Elmer Lach Elmer James Lach (, January 22, 1918 – April 4, 2015) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 14 seasons for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League (NHL). A centre, he was a member of the Punch line, along with ...

(1918–2015), Canadian ice hockey player *

Elmer Layden Elmer Francis Layden (May 4, 1903 – June 30, 1973) was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he starred at full ...

(1903–1973), commissioner of the National Football League and head football coach at the University of Notre Dame *

Elmer MacKay Elmer MacIntosh MacKay (born August 5, 1936) is a former Canadian politician. Life and career MacKay was born in Hopewell, Nova Scotia, the son of Laura Louise (Macintosh) and Gordon Barclay MacKay. He was first elected to the House of Commo ...

(born 1936), Canadian politician *

Elmer McCurdy } Elmer J. McCurdy (January 1, 1880 – October 7, 1911) was an American bank and train robber who was killed in a shoot-out with police after robbing a Katy Train in Oklahoma in October 1911. Dubbed "The Bandit Who Wouldn't Give Up", his mummif ...

(1880–1911), American outlaw whose corpse was put on exhibit *

Elmer Drew Merrill Elmer Drew Merrill (October 15, 1876 – February 25, 1956) was an American botanist and taxonomist. He spent more than twenty years in the Philippines where he became a recognized authority on the flora of the Asia-Pacific region. Through ...

(1876–1956), American botanist * Elmer "Geronimo" Pratt, (1947–2011)

Vietnam veteran A Vietnam veteran is a person who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War. The term has been used to describe veterans who served in the armed forces of South Vietnam, the United States Armed Forces, and o ...

and high-ranking member of the

Black Panther Party The Black Panther Party (BPP), originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, was a Marxist-Leninist and black power political organization founded by college students Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton in October 1966 in Oakland, Cali ...

* Elmer Rees (1941–2019), Welsh mathematician *

Elmer Rice Elmer Rice (born Elmer Leopold Reizenstein, September 28, 1892 – May 8, 1967) was an American playwright. He is best known for his plays ''The Adding Machine'' (1923) and his Pulitzer Prize-winning drama of New York tenement life, ''Street Sce ...

(1892–1967), American playwright * Elmer Riddle (1914–1984), baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds * Elmer Snowden (1900–1973), American jazz musician * Elmer Ambrose Sperry (1860–1930), American inventor and entrepreneur *

Elmer Steele Elmer Rae Steele (May 17, 1886 in Poughkeepsie, New York – March 9, 1966 in Rhinebeck, New York Rhinebeck is a village (New York), village in the Rhinebeck (town), New York, town of Rhinebeck in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The ...

(1886–1966), American baseball player * Elmer Valo (1921–1998), major league baseball player, coach, and scout * Uncle Elmer, American wrestler, born Stanley Fraizer

Surname

* Adolph Daniel Edward Elmer (1870–1942), American botanist *

Birger Elmér Carl Gustaf Birger Elmér (August 8, 1919 - November 8, 1999) was a Swedish military and intelligence officer. Until 1975 he was the head of the Swedish Armed Forces' secret intelligence agency, known as IB. References Notes {{DEFAU ...

(1919–1999), head of the Swedish secret intelligence agency, known as IB (1965–1975) * Charles Elmer (1872–1954), American amateur astronomer, co-founder of the Perkin-Elmer optical company *

Ebenezer Elmer Ebenezer Elmer (August 23, 1752 – October 18, 1843) was an American physician from Bridgeton, New Jersey. He represented New Jersey in the U.S. Congress from the Democratic-Republican Party from 1801 to 1807. Elmer's older brother, Jonathan ...

(1752–1843), American politician and physician * Edwin Romanzo Elmer (1850–1923), American painter * Emma Osterman Elmer (1867–1956), American librarian and author * Greg Elmer (born 1967), British-born Professor of Professional Communication at Ryerson University * James Elmer (born 1971), Australian Olympic field hockey striker * James C. Elmer (1882–1920), American college football player *

John Elmer (footballer) John Elmer (22 March 1905 – 4 August 1993) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serv ...

(1905–1993), Australian rules footballer *

Jonas Elmer (director) Jonas Elmer (born 14 March 1966) is a Danish film director, screenwriter and previously an actor. In 1988 he was a production assistant at the set of ''Family Business'', starring Sean Connery. Elmer graduated in direction at the National Fil ...

(born 1966), Danish film director, screenwriter and actor *

Jonas Elmer Jonas Elmer (born 28 February 1988) is a Swiss footballer who currently works for FC Stäfa as a player-assistant coach. Football career Early career Elmer was signed by English Premier League side Chelsea in the summer of 2005 from Grasshopp ...

(born 1988), Swiss footballer *

(1745–1817), American politician *

Kenneth Elmer Kenneth Elmer (born 24 April 1948) is a Canadian middle-distance runner. He competed in the men's 1500 metres at the 1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known a ...

(born 1948), Canadian Olympic middle-distance runner * Lachlan Elmer (born 1969), Australian Olympic field hockey player *

Lucius Elmer Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Elmer (February 3, 1793 – March 11, 1883) was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 1st congressional district in the U.S. Congress from 1843 to 1845. He was son of Ebenezer Elmer a ...

(1793–1883), American Democratic politician, U.S. Representative from New Jersey (1843–1845) *

Philip Elmer-DeWitt Philip Elmer-DeWitt (born September 8, 1949) is an American writer and editor. He was ''Time'' first computer writer—producing much of the magazine's early coverage of personal computers and the Internet—and for 12 years its science editor. He ...

(born 1949), American computer journalist *

Rico Elmer Rico Elmer (born 23 July 1969) is a Swiss ski mountaineer and mountain runner. Elmer was born in village of Elm in the canton of Glarus. He first competed in the Patrouille des Glaciers event in 1996 and has been member of the national team ...

(born 1969), Swiss ski mountaineer and mountain runner *

Rudolf Elmer Rudolf Elmer (born 1 November 1955) is a Swiss private banker, whistleblower, and activist. He worked as a banker at Julius Bär from the 1980s to his dismissal in 2002. At this time, he was head of the bank's Caribbean operations for eight years. ...

, whistleblower who released documents about Swiss bank Julius Bär * Stephen Elmer (baptised 1715–1796), English painter * Terri-Rae Elmer (born 1956), Los Angeles radio broadcaster *

Wally Elmer Wallace Druce Elmer (January 1, 1898 – August 28, 1978) was a professional ice hockey player who played in the Western Canada Hockey League. He played with the Saskatoon Crescents/Sheiks and Victoria Cougars. He won Stanley Cup The Stan ...

(1898–1978), Canadian ice hockey player * William Elmer (1869–1945), American silent film actor * William P. Elmer (1871–1956), U.S. Representative from Missouri (1943–1945)

Fictional characters

* Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, the title character in a series of children's picture books by David McKee * '' Elmer'', a comic book by Gerry Alanguilan * Elmer, a fictional bull, "husband" of Elsie the Cow * Elmer Fudd, a Looney Tunes character *

Elmer Elephant ''Elmer Elephant'' is a ''Silly Symphony'' cartoon short produced by The Walt Disney Company, directed by Wilfred Jackson and released on March 28, 1936. Plot Elmer Elephant arrives in the yard below Tillie Tiger's treehouse, where several oth ...

, the titular character of a Disney ''Silly Symphonies'' short * Elmer Gantry, the title character in a novel by Sinclair Lewis * Elmer C. Albatross, in the

Baccano! is a Japanese light novel series written by Ryohgo Narita and illustrated by Katsumi Enami. The series, often told from multiple points of view, is mostly set within a fictional United States during various time periods, most notably th ...

light novel series * Elmer, the ventriloquist dummy used by Western film actor

Max Terhune Max Terhune (February 12, 1891 – June 5, 1973) was an American film actor born in Franklin, Indiana. He appeared in nearly 70 films, mostly B-westerns, between 1936 and 1956. Among these, Terhune starred in '' The Three Mesquiteers'' an ...

* Elmer, on '' Pappyland'' * Elmer Phitts, a character in the Brandon Rogers Cinematic Universe

Notes

{{given name, type=both Masculine given names English masculine given names

Mononym

Given name

Surname

Fictional characters

See also

Notes