Hamer Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Hamer Origin:
England, Ireland

Origins of Hamer:
Listed as Hamer, Hammer, Hamor, and Hammor, this is an old English surname.  It has two possible origins.  The first is locational from the village of Hamer, near Rochdale, in the district of Lancashire.  The origin is from the Olde English pre 7th-century word “hamor” meaning a rock or crag.  Most name holders in the north of the country are from this origin. The second source is early German, Flemish or Dutch, being a metonymic professional name for a maker of hammers, or probably a user of a hammer, and acquiring from the word “hamar” meaning stone. It is clearly an example of a transferred meaning, as hammers have been made of metals since at least Roman times.  Early examples of the surname record taken from remaining rolls and records contain as John le Hammer in the pipe rolls of the division of Sussex in the year 1332, whileJohn de Heymer noted in “Baines History of Lancashire” in 1461.  Katerina Hamer married Thomas Anderson, at St. Andrew’s Enfield, in the county of Middlesex, in July 1560, and Ralph, the son of Ralph Hamer, named at St. Nicholas Acons, in the city of London, in February 1589.  Edward and James Hamer, who were Irish famine emigrants, sailed from Liverpool to New York aboard the ship “Windsor-Castle” in June 1847.   Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to “develop” often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Variations:
More common variations are: Hammer, Haymer, Haimer, Hamyer, Haumer, Heamer, Hamera, Hamery, Hameer.

England:
The surname Hamer first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from very early times, some say well before the Norman Invasion and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 AD.

Ireland:
Many of the people with surname Hamer had moved to Ireland during the 17th century.

United States of America:
Individuals with the surname Hamer landed in the United States in three different centuries respectively in the 17th, 18th, and 19th.    Some of the people with the name Hamer who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included Percy and Raphe Harner settled in Virginia in 1626.  Edward Harner, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.  Pee Harner, who landed in Virginia in 1653.

People with the surname Hamer who landed in the United States in the 18th century included Johan Peter Hamer, who landed in New York in 1709.  Johann Henrich Harner, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710.  Fredk Hamer, aged 35, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748.  Jacob Hamer, aged 16, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748.  Sebastian Harner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754.

The following century saw more Hamer surnames arrive.  Some of the people with the surname Hamer who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included B Harner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1802.  Hannah Harner, aged 23, landed in Kennebunk, Me in 1830.  Richard Harner, aged 34, arrived in Kennebunk, Me in 1830.  Mary Hamer, aged 2, arrived in Kennebunk, Me in 1830.  John Harner, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1846.

Australia:
Some of the individuals with the surname Hamer who landed in Australia in the 19th century included John Hamer, aged 54, a labourer, arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Admiral Boxer”.  Elizabeth Ann Hamer, aged 22, a domestic servant, arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Admiral Boxef’.  Susanna Hamer, aged 14, a domestic servant, arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship “Admiral Boxer.”

New-Zealand:
Some of the population with the surname Hamer who arrived in New Zealand in the 19th century included Thomas Hamer landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840.  Thomas Hamer arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship “Cashmere” in 1851.

Here is the population distribution of the last name Hamer:
United States 8,065; England 6,308; South Africa 1,680; Germany 1,580; Netherlands 1,497; Australia 1,413; Canada 1,005; Wales 914; Brazil 700; Argentina 538.

Notable People:
Ben Hamer (born 1987), is an English football player with Charlton Athletic.
Bent Hamer (born 1956), is a Norwegian film director.
Ova Hamer (born 1958), is an Argentine photographer.
Colin Hamer (born 1988), is a Sint Maartener cricketer.
Dale Hamer was an American football official.
David Hamer (1923–2002), was an Australian leader.
David Hamer (footballer) (born 1866), is a Welsh footballer with Southampton F.C.
Dean Hamer (born 1951), is an American geneticist.
Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977), was an American civil rights leader.
Frank Hamer (1884–1955), was a Texas Ranger.
Fritz Hamer was a botanist, classifier of species such as Isochilus aurantiacus.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

Notes: (Hamer, co. Lancaster). Blazon: Sable a bend or, between two lions rampant argent.