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Hammer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Hammer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The ancestral home of the Hammer family is in Austria, where the surname first emerged almost a millennium ago. The name Hammer is a contraction of the German "Hammerschmied," meaning "blacksmith," and was most likely first borne by someone who held this occupation. Alternatively, the name may be derived from the place name "Hammel;" in this instance, the name would refer to someone hailing from the town of Hammel.

According to Grimm and Forstemann, Hammer or Hamer is "a name under which traces of Thor are still to be found in the popular speech of Germany, and it is derived, no doubt, from the celebrated hammer or mallet which he wielded." 1

Early Origins of the Hammer family

The surname Hammer was first found in southern Germany and Austria, where the family became noted for its many branches throughout these regions. The first individual bearers of this name to be mentioned in ancient chronicles were "meister Hemer der smed (smith)" of Breslau, Silesia, in 1356, Hensl Hemerl of Iglau, Bohemia, in 1425, Ulrich Hamerl of Prague in 1390, and Nicolas Hamer of Worms in 1317.

Early History of the Hammer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hammer research. Another 197 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1791, 1820 and 1836 are included under the topic Early Hammer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammer 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 Hammer include Hammer, Hammerer, Hamer, Hahmmer, Hahmer, Haammer, Haamer, Hammerer, Haemmerlein, Haemmerle, Hemmerle, Hammerl, Hamerl, Hemmerling, Hammerling, Hemerl, Hemer, Haemmer, Haemmerl and many more.

Early Notables of the Hammer family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Hammer were

Baron Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, who was a famous linguist and orientalist...

Hammer Ranking

In the United States, the name Hammer is the 1,831^st most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 3 However, in France, the name Hammer is ranked the 4,554^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 4

Hammer migration to the United States +

After the First World War, Austria became a republic. The Treaty of Versailles broke up the empire in 1919 and many of the Sudeten Germans were incorporated into the new nation of Czechoslovakia. In the 20th century, many Austrians migrated to other parts of Germany or Europe, as well as to North America. In the United States, the majority of settlers landed in Philadelphia, and moved on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Many German settlers also migrated to Canada, particularly Ontario and the Prairies. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Hammer were

Hammer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Pedro Hammer, who landed in Maryland in 1666 5

Hammer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henrich Hammer, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 5
Susan Hammer who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1729
Rinehart Hammer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1729 5
Susan Hammer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 5
Hans Michael Hammer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hammer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christina Hammer, aged 12, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 5
Godfry Hammer, aged 8, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 5
Godlieb Hammer, aged 10, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 5
Jacob Hammer, who arrived in Maryland in 1830 5
John Gotlieb Hammer, who arrived in Maryland in 1833 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hammer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Leo Hammer, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 5
Eva Hammer, aged 37, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "North Pacific" from Cristobal 6
Knut Hammer, aged 16, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" from Kristiania, Norway 6
Anders Anton August Hammer, aged 32, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Natal" from Barry, England 6
Dagny Hammer, aged 31, originally from Christiania, Norway, arrived in New York, NY in 1919 aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" from Christiania, Norway 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hammer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hammer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Johann Julius Hammer, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1753
Thomas Christian Hammer, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1753

Hammer migration to Australia +

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

Hammer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Samuel Hammer, (b. 1852), aged 34, Cornish tin miner travelling aboard the ship "SS Energia" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4th June 1886 7
Mrs. Emma G Hammer, (b. 1849), aged 37, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "SS Energia" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4th June 1886 7

Hammer 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:

Hammer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Hammer, aged 28, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 8
Emma Hammer, aged 24, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 8
James Hammer, aged 5, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 8
Jane Hammer, aged 6 weeks, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 8
Mrs. Emma Hammer, (b. 1839), aged 24, Cornish settler departing on 18th June 1863 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 5th September 1863 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hammer (post 1700) +

Michael Armand Hammer (1955-2022), American businessman, son of Julian Armand Hammer, known for his work with Occidental Petroleum and the Hammer International Foundation, the Armand Hammer Foundation
Susan Hammer (1938-2020), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1996, 2000, Mayor of San Jose (1991–1999) 10
William H. Hammer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1916 10
William L. Hammer, American politician, Mayor of Decatur, Illinois, 1869 10
William Cicero Hammer (1865-1930), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Asheboro, North Carolina, 1895-99; U.S. Representative from North Carolina 7th District, 1921-30 10
Valdemar T. Hammer, American politician, Warden (borough president) of Branford, Connecticut, 1909-10, 1917-21 10
Scott Hammer, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Grant County Democratic Party, 1968-69 10
Oluf Hammer, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for New York State Senate 15th District, 1922 10
O. E. Hammer (b. 1867), American politician, Member of Minnesota State House of Representatives 4th District, 1917-20 10
Marion R. Hammer Jr., American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1944, 1948, 1952 10
... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Hammer family +

Empress of Ireland

Miss Emma Hammer (2014-1914), Finnish Third Class Passenger from Helsingfors,, Finland who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 11

Flight TWA 800

Miss. Tracy Anne Hammer (1967-1996), from Long Island, New York, USA, American travelling to deliver a Veterinary Science paper flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash 12
Mrs. Beverly C. Hammer (1937-1996), from Long Island, New York, USA, American passenger flying aboard flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash 12

The Hammer 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 labores ad honores
Motto Translation: By work and honour.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm