Hammersly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the Hammersly surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the village of Hammersley, in the county of Staffordshire. The surname Hammersly was originally derived from the Old English word hamm, which means flat, low-lying land and the Old English word ley, which refers to a wood clearing or grove.

Early Origins of the Hammersly family

The surname Hammersly was first found in Staffordshire at Hammersley, "a locality probably to be found in Staffordshire." 1 We can find no record of this village today, but there is no doubt some or all of the family came from Staffordshire. By example, the Register of the University of Oxford list Walter Hamersley, in 1610 and William Hamersly in 1617 as both being from Staffordshire 1 Evidence of the family was also found at Kencott in Oxfordshire. It was here that "the family of Hammersley: the tithes were commuted for land and a money payment in 1767." 2

Early History of the Hammersly family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hammersly research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1687 and 1801 are included under the topic Early Hammersly History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammersly Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hammersly include Hammersley, Hammersly and others.

Early Notables of the Hammersly family

More information is included under the topic Early Hammersly Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammersly migration to Australia +

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

Hammersly Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Hammersly, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Glen Huntley" in 1849 3

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The GLEN HUNTLEY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849GlenHuntly.htm