Show ContentsHamlyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

When the ancestors of the Hamlyn family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in Gloucestershire. Their name, however, is local reference of Old French derivation. It is stems from the Old French root hamel, indicating that the original bearer of the name once worked at an outlying farm which was dependent upon a main village. Several areas in Normandy are called Hamelin.

Early Origins of the Hamlyn family

The surname Hamlyn was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where "three of this name are entered as under-tenants: Hamelin homo Hugonis filii Baldrici in Lincolnshire; Hamelin holding of Roger de Montgomery in Sussex, and also mentioned in Devonshire; and Hamelin of Cornwall. 'Whether Hamelin of Devonshire and Hamelin of Cornwall were the same person, does not appear. In the latter county Hamelin held twenty-two manors under the Earl of Mortaine. He is supposed to have been the ancestor of the Trelawny family, and to have resided at Treloen, one of the manors described in the Survey as his property." [1]

Early History of the Hamlyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hamlyn research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1105, 1129, 1148, 1202, 1275, 1533, 1534 and 1539 are included under the topic Early Hamlyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hamlyn Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hamlyn have been found, including Hamelin, Hamelyn, Hamelen, Hamelyng, Hamelyne and others.

Early Notables of the Hamlyn family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Robert Hamlyn or Hamblyn, Abbot of Athelney Abbey (1533-1539)

Hamlyn Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hamlyn is the 390th most popular surname with an estimated 120 people with that name. [2]

Ireland Migration of the Hamlyn family to Ireland

Some of the Hamlyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hamlyn migration to the United States +

For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Hamlyn were among those contributors:

Hamlyn Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • David Hamlyn, who arrived in Maryland or Virginia in 1672 [3]
Hamlyn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Gaffing Hamlyn, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [3]
Hamlyn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Charlotte Hamlyn, aged 42, who landed in America from England, in 1892
  • H.W. Hamlyn, aged 35, who landed in America, in 1896
Hamlyn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Amy Beatrice Hamlyn, aged 40, who immigrated to America from Tunbridge Wells, England, in 1907
  • Edgar Hamlyn, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, England, in 1907
  • Ethel Hamlyn, aged 33, who landed in America from Southampton, England, in 1907
  • John Hamlyn, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Southampton, England, in 1907
  • Samuel Hamlyn, aged 21, who landed in America from Tsbburton, England, in 1907
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hamlyn migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hamlyn Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • John Hamlyn, aged 68, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1908

Australia Hamlyn migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hamlyn Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Hamlyn, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1847 [4]
  • Arthur Hamlyn, aged 44, a mason, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" [5]
  • Emily Hamlyn, aged 18, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Rodney" [5]

New Zealand Hamlyn migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hamlyn Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Hamlyn, aged 29, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879
  • Susan A. Hamlyn, aged 29, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Maraval" in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Hamlyn (post 1700) +

  • Alan Hamlyn, former English footballer
  • Paul Hamlyn CBE (1926-2001), Baron Hamlyn of Edgeworth, German-born British publisher and philanthropist
  • Christopher Hamlyn (b. 1947), Scottish professional footballer
  • Ronald Hamlyn, British fighter pilot and flying ace in the Royal Air Force, during World War II, credited with 11 aerial victories

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Hamlyn, British Boy, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [6]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Albert E Hamlyn, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [7]


  1. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  2. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  3. 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)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847DavidMalcolm.htm
  5. South Australian Register Wednesday 21st February 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1855.shtml
  6. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  7. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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