Show ContentsHamell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hamell surname comes from an Old French word "hamel," which meant "homestead." It was likely first used as a name to describe someone who lived at a farm on the outskirts of a main town, or for someone that lived in a small village. 1

Early Origins of the Hamell family

The surname Hamell was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where this distinguished family held a family seat at Désert, Fougeroux, and St.-Etienne.

The name was first found in Normandy with Guillaume in 1066, and again with Richard in 1116. 2

They branched to the west at Bottelière in Brittany (French: Bretagne), and to the east to Artois where they held a family seat in Bellenglise, to St.-Rémy in Champagne where they were elevated to the Counts du Hamel. They also branched to Holland at Arnhem and Bois-le-duc. At Désert in Normandy they were elevated to the nobility in 1598. Many of the estates and titles were lost during the French Revolution which started in 1789.

Early History of the Hamell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hamell research. The years 1624, 1700, 1706, 1762 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Hamell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hamell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hamel, Hamell, Hamil, Hamill, Hammel, Hammell, Hammil, Hammill, Hamelin, Hamlin, du Hamel, du Hamell, duHamil, du Hamill, du Hammel, du Hammell, du Hammil and many more.

Early Notables of the Hamell family

Notable amongst the family in this period was Jean-Baptiste (Du Hamel, Duhamel or du Hamel) (1624-1706), a notable French cleric and natural philosopher and the first secretary of the Academie Royale...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hamell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Hamell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hamell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Murdoch Hamell, who settled in New York State in 1738
  • Murdoch Hamell, who landed in New York in 1738 3
  • Archibald Hamell, who arrived in New York in 1740 3
  • Mary Hamell, who landed in New York in 1740 3
  • Archibald Hamell, who settled in New York state in 1740
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hamell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Geo Hamell, who arrived in Baltimore in 1833
  • Mr. Thomas Hamell, (b. 1811), aged 26, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 8th May 1837 4
  • Mrs. Ann Hamell, (b. 1816), aged 21, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 8th May 1837 4
  • Bernard Hamell, who arrived in Baltimore in 1844
  • Archibald, James, John and Jacob Hamell, who settled in Philadelphia between 1749 and 1850
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hamell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hamell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Hamell, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Ann Hamell, aged 18, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland

New Zealand Hamell 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:

Hamell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Margaret Hamell, (b. 1805), aged 56, Irish settler, from Antrim travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 5
  • Mr. John Hamell, (b. 1821), aged 40, Irish farm labourer, from Antrim travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 5
  • Mr. James Hamell, (b. 1836), aged 25, Irish farm labourer, from Antrim travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 5
  • Mr. Archibald Hamell, (b. 1839), aged 22, Irish farm labourer, from Antrim travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 5
  • Mrs. Sarah Hamell, (b. 1840), aged 21, Irish settler, from Antrim travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Rhea Sylvia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd May 1861 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hamell (post 1700) +

  • Janvier Hamell, American politician, Socialist Workers Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1956 6
  • Alma Hamell, American politician, Socialist Workers Candidate for Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania, 1956 6


  1. Dionne, N.-E., Origine Des Familles Canadiennes-Français. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969. Print.
  2. Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 6) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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