Show ContentsHammel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

From the historical and enchanting region of Scotland emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Hammel family. Originally, the Scottish people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in Scotland is extremely interesting. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The name Hammel is a nickname type of surname Anglicized from the Gaelic name O'hAdhmaill, which means active.

Early Origins of the Hammel family

The surname Hammel was first found in Normandy, where Robert, Ranulph, Turstan and Savaric Hamel were recorded in 1180. 1 The Saxon, Aldan Hamel was listed in the source Old English Bynames c. 1055 and later, Gregory Hamel was listed in Yorkshire, England c. 1170. 2

One of the first records of the family in Scotland was "William de Hameville [who] witnessed a confirmation charter of the fishery of Torduf between 1194-1211. As William de Heneuile or de Heyneuile he appears as witness in two Annandale charters by William Bruce, between 1194-1214, and in a resignation by Dunegal, son of Udard within the same period. In the reign of William the Lion, Walter de Hamule settled in Lothian where he obtained lands. He made a grant to the Abbey of Newbattle, Alan Homel perambulated the lands of Rath, c. 1206. Andreas Homyl was bailie of Roxburgh c. 1338, and John Homyl acted as bailie for Sir John Montgomery in 1413. John Homil or Homel was juror in an inquiry respecting right to muir ground at Irvine, 1417. Another John Homyll was appointed Master of the Grammar School of Aberdeen, 1418. Robert de Hommyl had a charter of Roughwood, Ayrshire, and confirmation of previous and older grants to his family in 1452, and Hugh Hanunill of Roughwood went to Ireland with Montgomery of Ards." 3

Early History of the Hammel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hammel research. Another 231 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1143, 1194, 1206, 1214, 1379, 1418, 1482, 1487, 1497, 1514, 1527, 1548, 1550, 1606, 1620, 1648, 1671, 1678 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hammel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammel Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hamill, Hammill, Hamil, Hommill, Homill, Homil, Hammel, Hammell and many more.

Early Notables of the Hammel family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hammel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammel Ranking

In the United States, the name Hammel is the 8,196th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Ireland Migration of the Hammel family to Ireland

Some of the Hammel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hammel migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hammel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johann Henrich Hammel, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 5
  • Christian Hammel, who arrived in America in 1734 5
  • Merran Hammel, who landed in New York in 1738 5
  • Archibald Hammel, who landed in New York in 1740 5
  • Mary Hammel, who arrived in New York in 1740 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hammel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Hammel, who arrived in New York in 1827 5
  • Catharine Hammel, aged 25, who arrived in New York, NY in 1832 5
  • Louis Hammel, who arrived in Allegany (Alkgheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1837 5
  • Michael Hammel, who arrived in Texas in 1844 aboard the ship "Weser" 5
  • Martin Friedrich Hammel, aged 45, who landed in America in 1846 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hammel migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hammel Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Hammel U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he was a surgeon for the New York Volunteers 3rd Battalion 6

Australia Hammel migration to Australia +

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

Hammel Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Joshua Hammel, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Hammel (post 1700) +

  • Thelma Hammel, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Minnesota, 1956; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Minnesota, 1960 8
  • Karen A. Hammel, American politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New York 35th District, 1978 8
  • A. B. Hammel, American politician, Delegate to Illinois convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 8
  • Francis Hammel (1950-2021), French politician, Deputy of Somme's 4th constituency (1997-2002)
  • Christian Joseph Hammel, French Brigadier General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 9
  • Hammel Madden Deroche (1840-1916), Canadian lawyer and politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Addington (1871-1883)


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  9. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, March 9) Christian Hammel. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html


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