Haamerstein History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The name Haamerstein comes from the German region of Westphalia. The tradition of adopting hereditary surnames came to Germany after the 12th century, and the names of places where people lived were a primary source. Many local names carry the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". It originally indicated land ownership, and is sometimes a mark of nobility. The Haamerstein family originally lived in one of the numerous places in Germany named Ham or Hamm. Haamerstein is also a Jewish surname particularly associated with the town of Hammerstein, in what was formerly East Prussia, which once had a large Jewish population. Haamerstein is a topographic surname, a type of local surname that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. The toponym Haamerstein is composed of the Old German word hamar, which means rock or crag and stein which means stone.

Early Origins of the Haamerstein family

The surname Haamerstein was first found in Westphalia, where the name Hammerstein emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Haamerstein family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Haamerstein research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1611, 1635, 1639 and 1675 are included under the topic Early Haamerstein History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Haamerstein 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 Haamerstein include Hammerstein, Hamerstein, Hahmmerstein, Hahmerstein, Haammerstein, Haamerstein, Haemmerstein, Haemerstein, Haehmmerstein, Haehmerstein and many more.

Early Notables of the Haamerstein family

Notables of the period with the name Haamerstein were Andreas Hammerschmidt (1611-1675), the "Orpheus of Zittau," German composer and organist. He was born at Brix in Bohemia. In 1635 he became organist at Freiberg in Saxony, and in 1639 exchanged that post for a similar one at Zittau in Oberlausitz, where he remained till his death on Oct. 29, 1675. His epitaph describes him...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Haamerstein Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Haamerstein family

For many Germans, emigration to North America was an inviting alternative to the trials of life in the old country. From the mid-17th into the present century, thousands of Germans migrated across the Atlantic. They capitalized on the chance to escape poverty and persecution, and to own their own land. After 1650, Germans settled throughout the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also landed in Canada, settling in Ontario or father west on the rich land of the prairies. Among them: Jacob Hammerstein who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754; Samuel Hammerstein who arrived in Washington County, Pa. in 1857; Johann Adam Hammerstein, accompanied by his wife, Margarethe Ramroth, who arrived in America in 1868.

The Haamerstein 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: Spectemur agendo
Motto Translation: Let us be judged by our actions.