Show ContentsHammell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hammell

What does the name Hammell mean?

From the historical and enchanting region of Scotland emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Hammell family. Originally, the Scottish people were known only by a single name. The process by which hereditary surnames were adopted in Scotland is extremely interesting. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. Often they adopted names that were derived from nicknames. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The name Hammell is a nickname type of surname Anglicized from the Gaelic name O'hAdhmaill, which means active.

Early Origins of the Hammell family

The surname Hammell was first found in Normandy, where Robert, Ranulph, Turstan and Savaric Hamel were recorded in 1180. 1 The Saxon, Aldan Hamel was listed in the source Old English Bynames c. 1055 and later, Gregory Hamel was listed in Yorkshire, England c. 1170. 2

One of the first records of the family in Scotland was "William de Hameville [who] witnessed a confirmation charter of the fishery of Torduf between 1194-1211. As William de Heneuile or de Heyneuile he appears as witness in two Annandale charters by William Bruce, between 1194-1214, and in a resignation by Dunegal, son of Udard within the same period. In the reign of William the Lion, Walter de Hamule settled in Lothian where he obtained lands. He made a grant to the Abbey of Newbattle, Alan Homel perambulated the lands of Rath, c. 1206. Andreas Homyl was bailie of Roxburgh c. 1338, and John Homyl acted as bailie for Sir John Montgomery in 1413. John Homil or Homel was juror in an inquiry respecting right to muir ground at Irvine, 1417. Another John Homyll was appointed Master of the Grammar School of Aberdeen, 1418. Robert de Hommyl had a charter of Roughwood, Ayrshire, and confirmation of previous and older grants to his family in 1452, and Hugh Hanunill of Roughwood went to Ireland with Montgomery of Ards." 3

Early History of the Hammell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hammell research. Another 231 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1143, 1194, 1206, 1214, 1379, 1418, 1482, 1487, 1497, 1514, 1527, 1548, 1550, 1606, 1620, 1648, 1671, 1678 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hammell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammell Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hamill, Hammill, Hamil, Hommill, Homill, Homil, Hammel, Hammell and many more.

Early Notables of the Hammell family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hammell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hammell family to Ireland

Some of the Hammell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 91 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hammell migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hammell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Merran Hammell, who landed in New York in 1738 4
  • Elias Hammell, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1760 4
  • Philip Hammell, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 4
  • Henri Hammell, who settled in America sometime between 1777 and 1783
  • Henri Hammell, who landed in America in 1777-1783 4
Hammell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Hammell, who arrived in San Francisco California in 1851 4

Hammell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hammell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Hammell, who was registered in Ancaster, Ontario in 1833

Hammell migration to Australia +

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

Hammell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Joshua Hammell, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Aboukir" in 1847 5
  • John Hammell, aged 27, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Prince Regent" 6
  • James Hammell, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Sumner"

Contemporary Notables of the name Hammell (post 1700) +

  • Joseph H. Hammell, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for burgess of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, 1933 7
  • James F. Hammell (1859-1916), American Democratic Party politician, Grocer; Cigar manufacturer; Mayor of Lansing, Michigan, 1900-03 7
  • James Hammell, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1912 7
  • George M. Hammell (1852-1916), American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Governor of Ohio, 1899 7
  • Benjamin A. Hammell (d. 1869), American politician, Mayor of Camden, New Jersey, 1848-49, 1857-58 7
  • Steven Hammell (b. 1982), Scottish professional footballer
  • Howard George Hammell (1896-1965), Canadian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta (1944-1955)
  • Connor Rhys Hammell (b. 1996), English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Keswick FC in Cumbria
  • Sue Hammell (b. 1945), Canadian politician, Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assemblyfor Surrey-Green Timbers (2005-2017)
  • William James Hammell (1881-1959), Canadian farmer and politician, born in Raymond, Ontario, Member of Parliament for Muskoka (1921-1925)
  • ... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. 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)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ABOUKIR 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Aboukir.htm
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "PRINCE REGENT" 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849PrinceRegent.htm
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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