Heman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Heman is a name that dates far back into the mists of early British history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is derived from Hamon, an Old French personal name brought to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

"The name appears in Normandy during the following century as a surname, for Geoffrey, Ranulph, Waleran, Richard, and Stephen Hamon or Hammon are found on the Exchequer Rolls of the Duchy in 1180-98; and, as Hammond, became common in England. The last Abbot of Battle was a Hammond." 1

Early Origins of the Heman family

The surname Heman was first found in Kent. The Roll of Battle Abbey reveals that two brothers, sons or grandsons of Hamon Dentatus accompanied the Conqueror in his Conquest. The first was Robert Fitz-Hamon, the renowned Conqueror of Glamorganshire and the second was Haimon, named in the Domesday Book as "Dapifer," for having received the office of Lord Steward for the King. The latter died issueless while the former had four daughters, three of which had conventual lives. 2

The remaining daughter named Mabel married Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester. Hamon Dentatus had two other sons: Richard of Granville; and Creuquer who inherited the Barony of Chatham from Robert Fitz-Hamon and many of the Kentish estates of Hamon Dapifer. 2

These estates were passed down to Haimon de Crévequer (died 1208) who had one son Robert Haimon. The latter joined the confederacy of Barons against Henry III., and as a consequence lost all his estates.

Later, West-Acre in Norfolk was home to a branch of the family. "It is the property of A. Hamond, Esq., whose seat here, High House, is a handsome mansion in the Italian style, finely situated in a well-wooded park. The church is partly in the early and partly in the later English style, with a square embattled tower, and contains the mausoleum of the Hamond family, and many beautiful monuments to several of its members." 3

Early History of the Heman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Heman research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1209, 1579, 1600, 1605, 1621, 1630, 1647, 1654, 1658, 1660, 1665, 1672, 1681, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Heman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heman Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Heman are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Heman include: Hammond, Hammon, Hammons, Hamon, Hamond and others.

Early Notables of the Heman family

Notables of the family at this time include Matthew Hammond (died 1579) Unitarian ploughwright from Hetherset, Norfolk, who was executed for his beliefs; Thomas Hammond (c. 1600-1658), an officer in the New Model Army and a regicide; Henry Hammond (1605-1660), an English churchman; Thomas Hammond (1630-1681), an English-born merchant and landowner who settled in Norway, father of Sara Hammond...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Heman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Heman family to Ireland

Some of the Heman family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Heman migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Heman or a variant listed above:

Heman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Francis Heman, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1646 4
John Heman, who arrived in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1677 4

Heman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph A Heman, who landed in Cincinnati, Oh in 1869-1870 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Heman (post 1700) +

Heman Swift, American politician, Member of Connecticut council of assistants, 1790-1801
Heman Hickok, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Schoharie County, 1812-13, 1819-20
Heman Carpenter, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Vermont, 1856 (Convention Vice-President), 1868 (alternate)
Heman Cady, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Clinton County, 1830 5
Heman W. Childs, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County, 1838-39 6
Heman J. Redfield (1823-1883), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Monroe, Michigan, 1871-75; Member of Michigan State Senate 5th District, 1875-78; Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1876 7
Heman J. Redfield (1788-1877), American politician, Member of New York State Senate 8th District, 1823-25; U.S. Collector of Customs, 1853-57 7
Heman Norton, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Monroe County, 1829 8
Heman M. Burr, American politician, Mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, 1889-90 9
Heman Storrs, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Mansfield, 1821 10

The Heman Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per tot discrimina verun
Motto Translation: Through so many dangers

Citations +

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
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html