Show ContentsDommer Surname History

The name Dommer comes from the German province known as the Rhineland. In pre-medieval times, the German people used only one name, but as the population increased, hereditary surnames became necessary for people to maintain unique identities. Dommer is a nickname surname, a style of name based on an eke-name, or added name, that described a characteristic of its original bearer. Dommer is a name for a person who was innocent or naive having derived from the German word "dommer" which means the same.

Early Origins of the Dommer family

The surname Dommer was first found in the Rhine region, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Dommer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dommer research. Another 172 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1410, 1743, 1816 and 1844 are included under the topic Early Dommer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dommer Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Dommer include Dommer, Domer, Dommar, Dommers, Dummar, Dumme, Dummer, Doemer, Domme and many more.

Early Notables of the Dommer family

More information is included under the topic Early Dommer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Dommer migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from the Rhineland who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. Many of those who left the Rhineland to seek their fortunes in the prosperous and free New World settled in the major urban centers of the United States and Canada. In the United States, the settlers from the Rhineland passed through immigration centers like that of Ellis Island, most of them moving on to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, the majority of Rhinelanders settled in Ontario and the prairie provinces. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has revealed many important settlers to North America bearing the name Dommer, or one of its variants above:

Dommer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Dommer, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1738
  • Carl Dommer, who landed in America in 1780 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Dommer (post 1700) +

  • Don Dommer, American architect in California


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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