Category Archives: Research Updates

Research Update 2

*****Asking all male descendants of the following branches to consider doing a DNA test so that we can have the fullest picture of the surviving family in the UK possible*****

• John BRYMER and Elizabeth BRUCE ->Robert BRYMER and Margaret RENTON
• William BREMNER and Agnes JACKSON -> David BRYMER and Matilda WATSON ->James BRYMER and Margaret GREIG
• James BRIMER or BRYMER and Margaret HALL
• James BRYMER and Ann MORRIS
• Isaiah BRIMER and Margaret
• Alexander BRYMER and Harriet PARR
• James Wilson BRIMER and Elizabeth

*****If you are not sure which branch you belong to but would like to take part in the research please get in touch as soon as possible*****

To update everyone on the research so far:

All bar 3 of the 110 males with the Brimer or Brymer surname, passed on by the father, born between 1916 and 1998 in England, Scotland and Wales have been identified and placed in a branch of the family.

Eleven branches have been identified, although it is assumed that some of these will merge as the research progresses backwards. Six of the branches have people taking DNA tests.

I have managed to contact 66% of the males identified and of those 29% have responded so far. There are 11 DNA tests currently underway with the results expected between now and June.

On the documentary side, there are currently over 1700 people on the master tree. Several data sets are complete and the database has been designed and will hopefully be ready to go live on the website in the next couple of weeks. Family trees will follow a few weeks later.

The breakdown of the lines is as follows:

James Brymer and Helen Cuthill: 28 alive; 22 contacted; 8 responded; 3 tested
James Brymer and Elizabeth Bruce: 19 alive; 11 contacted; 7 responded; 3 tested
Hannah Brimer Fox: 15 alive; 10 contacted; 1 responded; 1 tested
William Bremner and Agnes Jackson: 19 alive; 18 contacted; 4 responded; 2 tested
James Brimer and Margaret Hall: 10 alive; 5 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested
James Brimer and Helen Reddie: 7 alive; 7 contacted; 2 responded; 1 tested
James Brymer and Ann Morris: 2 alive; 2 contacted; 1 responded; 0 tested
George Bymer and Jane Jones: 3 alive; 3 contacted; 2 responded; 1 tested
Isaiah Brimer and Margaret: 2 alive; 2 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested
Alexander Brymer and Harriet Parr: 2 alive; 0 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested
James Wilson Brimer and Elizabeth: 1 alive; 1 contacted; 0 responded; 0 tested


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals

Research Update

It has been a busy couple of months with lots of data gathering, including visits to the ScotlandsPeople Centres in Hawick and Edinburgh. I am now assimilating the data into individual family trees within one big master tree, which allows branches to be joined together as links are found. There are currently 1323 people on the master tree – a number which is growing by about 60 people a day at present!

I have also managed to identify all the living males bearing the BRIMER or BRYMER surnames within Scotland and am trying to contact them all to invite them to take part in the study. If you receive a letter please do share with your male relatives as it has not been possible to identify an address for everyone.

There are only seven surviving males of the BRIMER surname over the age of 18 and they are related, descending from one line:

  • James BRIMER and Helen or Ellen READDIE/ REDDIE/ READY.

There are thirty five surviving males of the BRYMER surname over the age of 18. They descend in three lines:

  • James BRYMER and Helen CUTHILL – 27 living male descendants
  • William BREMNER / BRYMER and Agnes JACKSON – 2 living male descendants
  • James BRYMER and Ann MORRIS – 2 living male descendants

There are also 4 living  BRYMER males born in Scotland who have Northern Irish connections – I would be very grateful if anyone could give me any further details on this family and whether it is related or not to the Scottish families.

I am now performing the same exercise on the English and Welsh families – more details to follow.


Brimer-Brymer database last updated at 2016-07-02 00:29:43 with 4028 census records and 2856 individuals