Dorothea Grimm (née Zimmer; 31 May 1755 – 6 October 1808) was a German woman best known as the mother of the Brothers Grimm, Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859), renowned philologists, linguists, and collectors of folklore. She was born in Kassel, within the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, to a middle‑class family; her father, Johann Heinrich Zimmer, was a tailor.
In 1783, Dorothea married Philipp Wilhelm Grimm, a lawyer who served as a clerk at the Kassel court. The marriage produced eight children, though only five survived infancy. Dorothea’s household provided the early education and cultural environment that influenced her sons’ later scholarly pursuits. Records indicate that she fostered an environment in which literature and scholarly interests were encouraged, and she supported her sons’ enrollment at the University of Marburg.
Dorothea Grimm died in Kassel at the age of 53. Her role in the family is primarily documented through biographical works concerning her sons, where she is referenced as a supportive figure in their formative years. No extensive independent scholarly literature focuses solely on Dorothea Grimm, and most information about her is derived from historical accounts of the Grimm family.