Show ContentsHemblin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hemblin

What does the name Hemblin mean?

The name Hemblin reached England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Hemblin family lived in Gloucestershire. Their name, however, is local reference of Old French derivation. It is stems from the Old French root hamel, indicating that the original bearer of the name once worked at an outlying farm which was dependent upon a main village. Several areas in Normandy are called Hamelin.

Early Origins of the Hemblin family

The surname Hemblin was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where "three of this name are entered as under-tenants: Hamelin homo Hugonis filii Baldrici in Lincolnshire; Hamelin holding of Roger de Montgomery in Sussex, and also mentioned in Devonshire; and Hamelin of Cornwall. 'Whether Hamelin of Devonshire and Hamelin of Cornwall were the same person, does not appear. In the latter county Hamelin held twenty-two manors under the Earl of Mortaine. He is supposed to have been the ancestor of the Trelawny family, and to have resided at Treloen, one of the manors described in the Survey as his property." 1

Early History of the Hemblin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hemblin research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1105, 1129, 1148, 1202, 1275, 1533, 1534 and 1539 are included under the topic Early Hemblin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hemblin Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Hemblin family name include Hamelin, Hamelyn, Hamelen, Hamelyng, Hamelyne and others.

Early Notables of the Hemblin family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hemblin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hemblin family to Ireland

Some of the Hemblin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 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 Hemblin family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Hemblin family to immigrate North America: James Hamlin, who came to Barnstable, MA in 1639; James, Joyce, Margaret, Phillip, Hamlin, who all settled in Virginia in 1653; Ezekiel Hamlin, who was on record in Boston in 1655.



  1. 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


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