Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X, list of Scottish personal names).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JEEMS. Also Jeames (Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes i.: Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums xi.); ¶Jimes (Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 60); and dim. forms Jeemie (Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 25); Jeemoc (Lnk. 1833 Whigs of Scot. I. ix.), Jeemuck (n.Sc. 1919 M. Maclean Croft and Clachan 32), Jeemsie (Ags. 1916 V. Jacob Songs 18, 1928 Scots Mag. (May) 142), Jimsy (Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums x.). Sc. forms of James (Edb. 1864 J. Brown Jeems the Doorkeeper 3, Abd. 1886 J. Cowe Jeems Sim 7; Fif., Lth. Wilson; Sh., ne.Sc. 1975). See also Jaimie. [dȝimz. This pronunciation dates back to the 14th c. (cf. Mid.Eng. Jeme(s)) but prob. died out or became very rare till its revival in the 19th c. in Sc. and Eng., gen. with connotations of dignity, but later in Eng., ironical or jocular. Cf. also the pronunciation [′dȝimisən] for the surname Jamieson