Show ContentsHemmerling History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestral home of the Hemmerling family is in Austria, where the surname first emerged almost a millennium ago. The name Hemmerling 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 Hemmerling family

The surname Hemmerling 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 Hemmerling family

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

Hemmerling 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 Hemmerling 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 Hemmerling family

During this period prominent bearers of the name Hemmerling were Baron Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, who was a famous linguist and orientalist. He spent 50 years acquiring a vast library of the rarest and most valuable works of oriental...
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hemmerling Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hemmerling 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 Hemmerling were

Hemmerling Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Katie Hemmerling, who arrived in New York City, New York in 1903 aboard the ship "Graf Waldersee" from Cuxhaven, Germany 3
  • Pierce Hemmerling, aged 28, originally from Birelergrund, Luxembourg, who arrived in New York in 1913 aboard the ship "Zeeland" from Antwerp, Belgium 3
  • Joseph Hemmerling, aged 22, originally from Rollingergrund, Luxemburg, who arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Nieuw Amsterdam" from Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Hemmerling (post 1700) +

  • Brandon Hemmerling, American casting director, known for his work on Black Swan (2010), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) and Looper (2012)
  • Michel Hemmerling (1889-1962), Luxembourgian gymnast at the 1912 Summer Olympics
  • Anthony Elmer Charles "Tony" Hemmerling (1914-1983), Canadian professional NHL ice hockey player from Landis, Saskatchewan who played from 1933 to 1947 and coached from 1947 to 1953


The Hemmerling 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.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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