Show ContentsHomar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Homar

What does the name Homar mean?

The surname is one of the many new names that came to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Homar is for a maker of helmets. Originally the name Homar was derived from the Old French word heumier. 1 2

Alternatively, the name could have been "a medieval personal name [derived from] a saint bearing it gave name to St. Omer in Picardy, from whence the founder of the family may have come to England, not necessarily, however, since Homerton, Homersham, Homersfield, &c., point distinctly to some Anglo-Saxon proprietor who rejoiced in this poetical designation." 3

Another source point to the Picardy, France origin in more detail: "St. Omer, a branch of the house of Bethune of Picardy, with which it is armorially identified. William, Castellan of St. Omer, was a distinguished historical character temp. Henry I. The family was extensively settled in England. William de St. Omer was a justice itinerant temp. Edward I. (Mon. ii. 809), and had a writ of military summons 1263. Sir Thomas de St. Omer was Lord of several Manors, Norfolk and Wilts 1316 (Parliamentary Writs). Hugh, Richard, and William de St. Omer occur in Norfolk, London, &c., 1130 (Pipe Rolls). " 4

And of course, we would be remiss if we did not mention the 8th century BC, Greek poet Homer, who authored the Iliad and the Odyssey, two epic poems that survive as the two of the best examples of ancient Greek literature.

Early Origins of the Homar family

The surname Homar was first found in Dorset, England where Thomas de Homere, had lands in 1338. 5 "He may have been so called, either from the 'martel de fer,' or hammer, being his favorite weapon, or from a manor named 'Homere.' (variant: Hamer.) A family surnamed Homer have been settled in Stafford­shire for centuries. According to tradition, their ancestor, an officer, removed (moved) there in the fourteenth century, in consequence of having fought a duel. One of his descendants built a house at Ettingshall, near Bilston, parish of Sedgley, co. Stafford; and from him sprang - Edward Homer, of Ettingshall, whose son, Capt. John Homer, b. 1647, immigrated to Boston, Mass., circa 1672; married Margery Stephens; and died, leaving a son, Benja­min Homer, b. 1698, who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Crowe, and Bethia Sears, his wife. " 5

A further scan through early rolls revealed Alan le Heumer, was a Freemen of York, 16 Edward II (during the 16th year of King Edward II's reign) 1 and in Somerset, we found Peter de Homere and John de Homere, 1 Edward III. 6 Holmer is a parish two miles from Hereford. 1

"The Homers of Dorchester and its neighbourhood possess an ancient Dorset surname. Homer is also the name of an ancient Staffordshire family, and there is a hamlet thus called in the adjoining county of Shropshire." 7

Early History of the Homar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Homar research. Another 278 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1279, 1296, 1332, 1576, 1731, 1761, 1799, 1838 and 1856 are included under the topic Early Homar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Homar Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Homar were recorded, including Homer, Holmer and others.

Early Notables of the Homar family

More information is included under the topic Early Homar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Homar migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Homar arrived in North America very early:

Homar Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Guillermo Homar, who landed in Puerto Rico in 1879 8

Homar migration to Australia +

Homar Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Homar, (b. 1803), aged 45, English lacemaker from Tutbury, England, UK travelling aboard the ship "Agincourt" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 6th October 1848 9
  • Mrs. Anne Homar, (b. 1805), aged 43, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Agincourt" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 6th October 1848 9
  • Miss Emily Anne Homar, (b. 1838), aged 10, English settler from Nottingham, England, UK travelling aboard the ship "Agincourt" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 6th October 1848 9
  • Mr. Edwin Matthew Homar, (b. 1841), aged 7, English settler from Carrington, Manchester, England, UK travelling aboard the ship "Agincourt" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 6th October 1848 9

Homar 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:

Homar Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Homar, aged 32, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
  • Eliza Homar, aged 32, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oliver Lang" in 1856
  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. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. 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)
  5. Dixon, Bernard Homer, Surnames. London: John Wilson and son, 1857. Print
  6. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  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. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf

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