The origins of the name Hemon are with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived 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]
The surname Hemon 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hemon research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1209, 1647, 1579, 1600, 1658, 1605, 1660, 1630, 1681, 1672, 1716, 1621, 1654, 1665 and are included under the topic Early Hemon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Hemon has been spelled many different ways, including Hammond, Hammon, Hammons, Hamon, Hamond and others.
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 Hemon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In France, the name Hemon is the 3,736th most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. [4]
Migration of the Hemon family to IrelandSome of the Hemon 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.
Hemon migration to the United States +Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Hemons to arrive in North America:
England
France
