Show ContentsHammer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hammer Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Hammer

What does the name Hammer mean?

The ancestors of the Hammer surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the village of Hamer in the parish of Rochdale in the county of Lancashire. 1 2

"Hamer may have been an old Saxon forename; for there is in co. Lincoln a place called Hameringham; i. e., Home of Hamer's son.' 3

Early Origins of the Hammer family

The surname Hammer was first found in Sussex where Richard Hamer was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. 4 Early Lancashire records show John de Heymer, c. Edward IV and Thurston de Heymer, 1574 5

Early History of the Hammer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hammer research. Another 62 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1303 and 1332 are included under the topic Early Hammer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammer 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 Hammer include Hammer, Hammerr, Hammers and others.

Early Notables of the Hammer family

  • John Hammer of Hammer

Hammer Ranking

the United States, the name Hammer is the 1,831st most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 6 However, in France, the name Hammer is ranked the 4,554th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 7

Hammer migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Hammer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Pedro Hammer, who landed in Maryland in 1666 8
Hammer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Henrich Hammer, who arrived in New York in 1709-1710 8
  • Susan Hammer who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1729
  • Rinehart Hammer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1729 8
  • Susan Hammer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1729 8
  • Hans Michael Hammer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hammer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Christina Hammer, aged 12, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 8
  • Godfry Hammer, aged 8, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 8
  • Godlieb Hammer, aged 10, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1807 8
  • Jacob Hammer, who arrived in Maryland in 1830 8
  • John Gotlieb Hammer, who arrived in Maryland in 1833 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hammer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Leo Hammer, who landed in Arkansas in 1906 8
  • Eva Hammer, aged 37, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "North Pacific" from Cristobal 9
  • Knut Hammer, aged 16, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" from Kristiania, Norway 9
  • Anders Anton August Hammer, aged 32, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Natal" from Barry, England 9
  • Dagny Hammer, aged 31, originally from Christiania, Norway, arrived in New York, NY in 1919 aboard the ship "Stavangerfjord" from Christiania, Norway 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hammer migration to Canada +

Hammer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Johann Julius Hammer, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1753
  • Thomas Christian Hammer, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1753

Hammer migration to Australia +

Hammer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Hammer, (b. 1852), aged 34, Cornish tin miner travelling aboard the ship "SS Energia" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4th June 1886 10
  • Mrs. Emma G Hammer, (b. 1849), aged 37, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "SS Energia" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 4th June 1886 10

Hammer 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:

Hammer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Henry Hammer, aged 28, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 11
  • Emma Hammer, aged 24, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 11
  • James Hammer, aged 5, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 11
  • Jane Hammer, aged 6 weeks, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Accrington" in 1863 11
  • Mrs. Emma Hammer, (b. 1839), aged 24, Cornish settler departing on 18th June 1863 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 5th September 1863 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Hammer (post 1700) +

  • Armand Hammer (1898-1990), American petroleum executive, acting as chairman, chief executive and director of the Occidental Petroleum Corporation
  • Michael Armand Hammer (1955-2022), American businessman, son of Julian Armand Hammer, known for his work with Occidental Petroleum and the Hammer International Foundation, the Armand Hammer Foundation
  • Susan Hammer (1938-2020), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1996, 2000, Mayor of San Jose (1991–1999) 13
  • William H. Hammer, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1916 14
  • William L. Hammer, American politician, Mayor of Decatur, Illinois, 1869 14
  • William Cicero Hammer (1865-1930), American Democratic Party politician, Mayor of Asheboro, North Carolina, 1895-99; U.S. Representative from North Carolina 7th District, 1921-30 14
  • Valdemar T. Hammer, American politician, Warden (borough president) of Branford, Connecticut, 1909-10, 1917-21 14
  • Scott Hammer, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Grant County Democratic Party, 1968-69 14
  • Oluf Hammer, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for New York State Senate 15th District, 1922 14
  • ... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Miss Emma Hammer (2014-1914), Finnish Third Class Passenger from Helsingfors,, Finland who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 14
  • Miss. Tracy Anne Hammer (1967-1996), from Long Island, New York, USA, American travelling to deliver a Veterinary Science paper flying aboard Flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash 15
  • Mrs. Beverly C. Hammer (1937-1996), from Long Island, New York, USA, American passenger flying aboard Flight TWA 800 from J.F.K. Airport, New York to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Rome when the plane crashed after takeoff ; she died in the crash 16

Suggested Readings for the name Hammer +

  • The Hammer Story: Ancestors and Descendants of Anton Hammer by Zada Hunter.
  • John Hicks Hamer (also Hammer) 1765-1842: His Antecedents, Descendants and Collateral Families, 1744-1949: a Compilation by Florie Janie Hammer Hooker.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Baines Thomas & William Fairbairn, Lancashire and Cheshire, Past and Present History of Counties London: William MacKenzie, 1867, Digital, 4 vols
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. 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)
  9. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  13. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  14. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  15. The Washington Post Passenger List TWA Flight 800. (Retrieved 2018, February 15th). Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/twa800/list01.htm

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