Surname Hamer - Meaning and Origin
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An Unraveling of Identity: A Journey with My Surname, Hamer, through DNA Analysis at iGENEA
A DNA test at iGENEA allowed me to dive deep into the history of my family name, Hamer. From revealing its Germanic and Scandinavian origins to uncovering the path our ancestors once tread across Europe, it painted a rich tapestry of my ancestry. This experience stretched the bounds of what I knew about my lineage, delivering a newfound sense of identity.
I. Hamer
read moreHamer: What does the surname Hamer mean?
The last name Hamer is of Germanic origin and is derived from the words "hammer" and "heer", referring to someone who was either an armorer or a soldier.
The occupational name originates from the pre-eighth century old German language meaning someone who made, used, or sold hammers or other weapons of war. The surname may also have been derived from a place name in Germany or the Netherlands, such as Hamercastle or Hamersberg. It could also be a local feature such as a house which was previously called "hamers hoff" or the betrayers house.
The Hamer family is said to have been among the basic clans of Britain. Ancestors of the Hamer family were found in the regions of Pembrokeshire, England during the eleventh century.
Later, some of the family migrated across to North America during the eighteenth century, where they made significant contributions. Some of the members held special positions in the American Revolution, including Private Jehu Hamer, a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and Mr. Henry Hamer who served as a paymaster for the Continental Army during the same war.
The Hamer family name continues to grow in popularity with individuals from all nations around the world. It is said to be a reflection of ambition, strength and honor.
Order DNA origin analysisHamer: Where does the name Hamer come from?
The last name Hamer is quite common in the United States today. The 2020 population estimate for individuals with the last name was over 20,000, but the true numbers may be even higher due to under reporting or alternate spellings of the name.
Hamer is a relatively popular surname and is especially prevalent in families that trace their ancestry to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Additionally, the surname is common among African Americans, who likely adopted the last name upon emancipation following the Civil War.
As a top last name, it can be found in many large cities across the United States, especially those with large numbers of German immigrants. The most frequent occurrences of the name are found in California, Texas, New York, and Florida. Within these states, the largest cities where you may find members of the Hamer family are Houston, New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.
It is also becoming increasingly common in other countries, especially due to increased immigration to the United States and other countries. In England, for example, surname records from the 19th century show that Hamer is more common today than it was at the time.
Overall, the last name Hamer is a popular surname with a strong genealogical history in the United States, and is continuing to spread to other countries due to increased immigration and intercultural exchange.
Variations of the surname Hamer
The surname Hamer is a patronymic surname, meaning it derives from the first name of the father. Variants for the surname Hamer include Hamor, Hammer, Hammere, Hammerle, Hamerle, Hammeer, Hamar, and Hammerer.
Sometimes the original bearer of this surname might have also had different spellings of their name, depending on their place of origin and language. For example, in Dutch the surname would be spelled as Hammeren, Hamers, Hamervoort, Hamme, Hammes, and Hamelers. In other countries, such as Norway and Sweden, the surnames would be spelled as Hämmer, Hämer, Hämar, Hämmerling, and Hämerling.
Common variants of the Hamer surname are Hamor, Hammer, and Hamor. It is also believed that this surname could be related to surnames such as Hamner, Hamman, Hainer, and Henning, due to their pronunciation and spelling similarities.
Because of migration, it was common for people to change or drop part of their name, which led to more variations of the name such as Ham, Hamon, Hammel, Hammett, Hasmer, Mercer, Weaver, and Weavers.
Today, the surname Hamer is found all over the world, mainly in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and Canada.
Famous people with the name Hamer
- Fay Hamer: Fay Hamer is an American actress and television personality. She appeared in television shows such as Last Man Standing, One Tree Hill, Modern Family, and The Fosters. She was most recently seen in the film The Last Set.
- Jack Hamer: Jack Hamer is an American actor and writer, best known for his role as Luke Healy in the ABC Family dramedy Kyle XY.
- Frances Fox Piven: An American political scientist known for her work on social reforms and the welfare system.
- Ryan Hamer: Ryan Hamer is an American former professional snowboarder. He competed in the 2006 Olympics and is now a snowboard instructor and public speaker.
- Tom Hamer: Tom Hamer is an American professional swimmer and Paralympic champion. He has won six medals at the Summer Paralympics, four golds and two bronze.
- John Hamer: John Hamer is an archivist and historian, best known for his work on the Mennonite population of Eastern Europe.
- Dana Hamer: Dana Hamer is an American children's author, best known for her work on the popular series My Weird School.
- Pierre Hamer: Pierre Hamer is a Belgian politician who has served as the Minister of Education and Training since 2016.
- Emily Hamer: Emily Hamer is an American poet from Wisconsin. She has published two collections of poetry, Manic D and Moving Through Glass, and her work has been widely anthologized.
- Robert Hamer: Robert Hamer was a British film director, best known for his 1949 film Kind Hearts and Coronets, which won four Academy Award nominations.