English

Proper noun

Mortimer

1. A British surname​.
   • 1598, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1: Act I, Scene III:

     He said he would not ransom Mortimer; / Forbade my tongue to speak of Mortimer; / But I will find him when he lies asleep, / And in his ear I'll holla 'Mortimer!'

2. A male given name transferred from the surname.
   • 1941 Delmore Schwartz, Shenandoah, New Directions (1941), page 13:

     I like the names Herbert and Mortimer more all the time. They are so distinguished and new and American. Do you know how I came to think of them? I was reading the newspaper in bed after my first boy was born. I was reading the society page, which is always so interesting.

Related terms

• Mort
• Mortymer