Elmer

Elmer is an American and Canadian given name that 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, leading supporters of the American Revolution."^[1] The name has fallen out of popular use in the last few decades and it is uncommon to find Elmers born after World War II.

Given name

Elmer L. Andersen (1909–2004), American businessman, philanthropist, and the 30th Governor of Minnesota
Elmer Bernstein (1922–2004), American composer
Elmer Bischoff (1916–1991), American painter
W. Elmer Brandon (1906-1956), Canadian politician, known by his middle name
Elmer Davis (1890–1958), news reporter, author, Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II, and Peabody Award recipient
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
Elmer Grey (1872–1963), American architect and artist
Elmer Keith (1899–1984), firearms cartridge designer and author
Elmer Kelton (1926–2009), American journalist and writer, particularly of Western novels
Elmer Lach (1918-2015), Canadian professional ice hockey player
Elmer Layden (1903–1973), Commissioner of the National Football League and head football coach at the University of Notre Dame
Elmer MacKay (born 1936), Canadian politician
Elmer McCurdy (1880–1911), American outlaw whose corpse was exhibited
Elmer Drew Merrill (1876–1956), American botanist
Elmer Rice (1892–1967), American playwright
Elmer Riddle (1914–1984), professional baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds
Elmer Snowden (1900–1973), American jazz musician
Elmer Ambrose Sperry (1860–1930), prolific American inventor and entrepreneur
Elmer Valo (1921–1998), Major League Baseball player, coach, and scout
Elmer Gutierrez (Born 2008), 3x World Champion Mouser (2012, 2014, 2015)

Surname

Adolph Daniel Edward Elmer (1870–1942), American botanist
Ebenezer Elmer (1752–1843), American politician and physician
Jonathan Elmer (1745–1817), American politician
Rico Elmer (born 1969), Swiss ski mountaineer and mountain runner
Rudolf Elmer, whistleblower who released documents about Swiss bank Julius Bär to WikiLeak

In fiction and entertainment

Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, the title character in a series of children's picture books by David McKee
Elmer, a fictional bull, "husband" of Elsie the Cow
Elmer Fudd, a Looney Tunes character
Elmer Elephant, the titular character of a Disney Silly Symphonies short
Elmer Gantry, the title character in a novel by Sinclair Lewis
Elmer C. Albatross, a character in the Baccano! light novel series
Elmer, the ventriloquist dummy used by Western film actor Max Terhune
Elmer, a character on Pappyland
Elmer, a character on Elliot Goes to School
Uncle Elmer, a professional wrestler, born Stanley Fraizer

Other uses

Elmer FEM solver
Elmer (film), a 1976 film starring Dean Cain
In the amateur radio subculture, an Elmer is a mentor to a newcoming amateur radio operator.^[2]

Places

Elmer, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Elmers End, London Borough of Bromley/Croydon

Notes

^ Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of First Names (Oxford UP, 1990), p. 101.
^ The 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."

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[1] Patrick Hanks and Flavia Hodges, A Dictionary of First Names (Oxford UP, 1990), p. 101.

[2] The 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."

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