This surname is derived from a nickname. of endearment, 'fin amour,' pure love (v. Douceamour and Plainamour). The change of 'n' to 'l' was common; compare Bannister for Ballister (v. Bannister), and banister for baluster. For instances, v. Finnemore. 'Ph' and 'F' interchange frequent civilities; v. Fillpot for Philpot, Filbert and Philbert, Farrimond and Pharamond, &c.

1683. Married — Thomas Foster and Saray Phillmore: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1795. — William Phillimore and Elizabeth Davis: St. George, Hanover Square.

The Old Teutonic Filomor, &c., a variant of Filimar: v. under Filmer 1.

(English) Descendant of Filimar or Filomor (very famous).

"This family formerly wrote their name Finmere, Fylmere, Filmour, and Filmor, temp. Edw. III., but of late, Filmer, and were seated at Otterinden in Kent, at a place called Finmore." Kimber's Baronetage.

An old German personal name (Filimer) signifying "full-famous." Ferguson.

This name, in all probability, arose from a residence near a lake or a fertile piece of ground; Fille, Saxon, denoting fullness or plenteousness, and mere, a lake or moist piece of ground. The name has been spelled at different times Fylmere, Filmour, and Filmore. Several other derivations may be found for the etymology of this name. From Filea, Celtic and Gaelic, a bard, a historian, and mor, great, that is, the famous bard. The Films, among the Gauls, or Celts, were held in great esteem, and their office was honorable. They turned the tenets of religion into verse, and animated the troops before and during an engagement with martial odes, and celebrated the valorous deeds of the chieftains and princes who entertained them.

FILMUR, FILMORE: This name, in all probability, arose from a residence near a lake or a fertile piece of ground; Fille, Saxon, denoting fullness or plenteousness, and mere, a lake or moist piece of ground. The name has been spelled at different times Fylmere, Filmour, and Filmore. Several other derivations may be found for the etymology of this name. From Filea, Celtic and Gaelic, a bard, a historian, and mor, great, that is, the famous bard. The Films, among the Gauls, or Celts, were held in great esteem, and their office was honorable. They turned the tenets of religion into verse, and animated the troops before and during an engagement with martial odes, and celebrated the valorous deeds of the chieftains and princes who entertained them.

Amongst the families, now scantily to be found in. the county, but well established during the 17th and 18th centuries, are those of Phillimore and Packer: the Phillimores were engaged in the cloth - trade in Cam parish, where the name still survives; whilst the Packers resided in the parish of Kempsford (Bigl.).

The Filmers belong to a distinguished Kentish family that had its home at East Sutton during the 17th century; some of its members were baronets, and others were sheriffs of the county (H.).