Haemmerstein History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Haemmerstein is a local name from the German region of Westphalia. Local names came to Germany with other types of hereditary surnames after the 12th century. They were derived from the name of the place where the original bearer of the name lived. Sometimes local names bear the prefix "von", meaning "of" or "from". It was an indication of land-ownership, and was sometimes taken as a mark of aristocracy. The family originally lived in one of the numerous places in Germany named Ham or Hamm. Haemmerstein 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. Haemmerstein 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 Haemmerstein is composed of the Old German word hamar, which means rock or crag and stein which means stone.

Early Origins of the Haemmerstein family

The surname Haemmerstein 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 Haemmerstein family

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

Haemmerstein Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Haemmerstein include Hammerstein, Hamerstein, Hahmmerstein, Hahmerstein, Haammerstein, Haamerstein, Haemmerstein, Haemerstein, Haehmmerstein, Haehmerstein and many more.

Early Notables of the Haemmerstein family

Notables of the period with the name Haemmerstein 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 Haemmerstein Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Haemmerstein family

After 1650, thousands of German settlers came to North America to escape the religious persecution and poverty that wracked Europe and to make the most of the opportunity to own their own land in a new country. They settled across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California, and in Canada in Ontario and on the fertile plains of the prairie provinces. 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 Haemmerstein 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.