Hamham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Hamham came from Hamon, an Old French personal name brought to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

"The name appears in Normandy during the following century as a surname, for Geoffrey, Ranulph, Waleran, Richard, and Stephen Hamon or Hammon are found on the Exchequer Rolls of the Duchy in 1180-98; and, as Hammond, became common in England. The last Abbot of Battle was a Hammond." 1

Early Origins of the Hamham family

The surname Hamham was first found in Kent. The Roll of Battle Abbey reveals that two brothers, sons or grandsons of Hamon Dentatus accompanied the Conqueror in his Conquest. The first was Robert Fitz-Hamon, the renowned Conqueror of Glamorganshire and the second was Haimon, named in the Domesday Book as "Dapifer," for having received the office of Lord Steward for the King. The latter died issueless while the former had four daughters, three of which had conventual lives. 2

The remaining daughter named Mabel married Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester. Hamon Dentatus had two other sons: Richard of Granville; and Creuquer who inherited the Barony of Chatham from Robert Fitz-Hamon and many of the Kentish estates of Hamon Dapifer. 2

These estates were passed down to Haimon de Crévequer (died 1208) who had one son Robert Haimon. The latter joined the confederacy of Barons against Henry III., and as a consequence lost all his estates.

Later, West-Acre in Norfolk was home to a branch of the family. "It is the property of A. Hamond, Esq., whose seat here, High House, is a handsome mansion in the Italian style, finely situated in a well-wooded park. The church is partly in the early and partly in the later English style, with a square embattled tower, and contains the mausoleum of the Hamond family, and many beautiful monuments to several of its members." 3

Early History of the Hamham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hamham research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1209, 1579, 1600, 1605, 1621, 1630, 1647, 1654, 1658, 1660, 1665, 1672, 1681, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hamham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hamham Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hamham has been recorded under many different variations, including Hammond, Hammon, Hammons, Hamon, Hamond and others.

Early Notables of the Hamham family

Notables of the family at this time include Matthew Hammond (died 1579) Unitarian ploughwright from Hetherset, Norfolk, who was executed for his beliefs; Thomas Hammond (c. 1600-1658), an officer in the New Model Army and a regicide; Henry Hammond (1605-1660), an English churchman; Thomas Hammond (1630-1681), an English-born merchant and landowner who settled in Norway, father of Sara Hammond...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hamham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hamham family to Ireland

Some of the Hamham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hamham family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hamham or a variant listed above: Daniel Hammond settled in Bermuda in 1635; Elizabeth Hammond and her husband settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630 with their four children; Henry Hammond arrived in Fort Cumberland Nova Scotia with his wife and three children in 1774.

The Hamham 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 tot discrimina verun
Motto Translation: Through so many dangers

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.