This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the creamer,' i.e. huckster, or pedlar. 'Of the above there are —a cadgers (fish carriers), a creamers, persons who go through the parish ... and buy butter, hens, eggs, &c, mostly for the Dundee market': P. Kirkden, Forfars. Statist Acc. ii. 508 (Jamieson). Hence creamerie, cramery, merchandise, goods usually sold by a pedlar.

'With my cramery gif ye list mell.': Lyndsay, S. P. R.

A crame was a pedlar's pack. 'Ane pedder is called an marchand, or creamer, qhuabearis ane pack or crcame upon his back' (Skene, Verb. Sign). All my quotations are from Jamieson, who shows that cream, craim, and crame also denoted a market booth or stall, and a cramer or creamer was the occupant.

1675. Married — William Rolfe and Elizabeth Creamer: St. Michael, Cornhill.

1707. — Edward Sankey and Fanny Cramer: St. George, Hanover Square.

From the occupation. Sir John Skene (1681) says: "Ane pedder is called ane merchand or cremer, quha beirs ane pack or creame upon his back (De verborum significatione). In the Old statistical account (1792) of the parish of Kirkden in Angus, Creamers are described as "persons who go through the parish, and neighbourhood, and buy butter, hens, eggs, &c., mostly for the Dundee market" (v. 2, p. 508).

This is not the same as Cramer of Co. Cork, which was originally Von Kramer: for particulars regarding this name see J.C.H.A.S. No. 16, Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland 1912, and Irish Families (Bibliography). It is also associated with Co. Kilkenny where, since 1682 when Balthasar Creamer was High Sheriff of the county, the family have been extensive landowners. Five of the name are in the Kilkenny School register between 1685 and 1750. It is presumably from this family that the place-name Cramer's Grove in that county was derived *. Cramer does occur in the birth registration returns as having been used as synonymous with Creamer, but for the most part Creamer and Creamor belong principally to Co. Leitrim, though occurring also in Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh. Seventeenth century records, e.g. the Co. Armagh householders of 1664-5,present instances of MacCramir being used for the more usual MacCraner or MacCreanor, which is an older form of the Ulster name Traynor dealt with in Irish Families (p. 278). In the absence of any other explanation of theorigin of the name Creamer in Co. Leitrim it appears probable that this is a corrupt anglicized form of Mac Thréinfhir, borne by migrants from Co. Armagh or Co. Tyrone. At the same time it must be observed that Creamer is also an English surname, which Bardsley explains as being derived from the word creamer, a pedlar, a crame being a pedlar's pack.

* There is also a townland of Cramer's Valley near Naas in Co. Kildare.

= Cramer, q.v.

There are several origins for this name. The well known Co. Cork family were Von Kramer; there is an English name derived from creamer, a pedlar; and it can be a corruption of MacCreanor, a variant form of Traynor. Bibl; SIF 42

(German) The shop keeper or tradesman; one who traveled through the country buying butter, hens and eggs which he carried to the market in a cram, or pack, on his back.

See Cramer. In Scotland a pedlar, or one who keeps a booth.

From the Flemish, Cremer, Crimmers; from the German, Kremer; from the Dutch, Cramer, Cremer; a personal name.

Cramer: a huckster. Hence Cranmer.