Surname Hammburger - Meaning and Origin
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Hammburger: What does the surname Hammburger mean?
The last name Hammburger is of German origin, and is actually a fairly uncommon name in the United States. The name was originally derived from the occupation of a butcher, hence the suffix "burger," which denotes a person who cuts up meat for sale. The success of these butchers brought them much prestige and recognition, which was uniquely assigned to them with the new surname.
The prefix "Ham" comes from an old Germanic verb which meant "to rest or linger," and a large portion of the family also bears the name or its variations, such as Hammmerbacher. In many instances, the original name would have been "Hammerschmied," which translates to "hammer smith," and in some cases, the Hammburgers may have emerged from that more general name.
The origin of the family's unique last name can also be understood from the study of German heraldry and the coat of arms attributed to them. The family's crest portrays a large hammer with a shield in the middle, and can be seen as symbolising the family's martial power and strength. The Hammburgers were one of the many families that settled in the United States before the Revolution, and today they are scattered throughout the country, maintaining their distinct unique identity.
Order DNA origin analysisHammburger: Where does the name Hammburger come from?
The last name Hammburger is most commonly found in Germany. It is thought to be derived from the German word ‘hamburger’, a type of roll whose name is derived from a city of the same name once home to large German merchants. The name likely also relates to the occupational name for a burger-maker or someone who sold hamburgers. It was a common name in Germany up until the early 20th century before emigrating to other countries such as the United States and Canada.
The United States has the highest number of Hammburgers today. This is likely due to the large number of German immigrants that came to the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially to large cities like New York and Chicago. It is believed that some members of the family may have taken different surnames depending on where they settled, such as Hamburg, Hammerger, and longer versions such as Hamberger or Hawbarger.
The name is still relatively common in the US, especially in states like New York, Michigan, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Smaller numbers are found throughout Canada, particularly in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. Today, it is estimated that there are around 10,000 Hammburger living in North America.
Variations of the surname Hammburger
There are numerous variants, spellings and surnames of similar origin for the surname Hammburger, including Hamburger, Hamborg, Humberger, Hombourger, Humbourg, Hamborguer, Hammerberger, Hamborgen, Humburg, Humberg, Homberg, Hamberg and Homburge. Many are derived from the same German state of origin – the Kingdom of Bavaria.
The main source of variants is the German language and its family of dialects. The various spellings originated in the different phonetic versions of the name spoken in different parts of Bavaria. For example, the spelling ‘Hammburger’ is more widely used in the Franconian dialect, while ‘Hombourger’ is seen more often in Lower Bavarian dialects.
In the United States, most immigrants changed the spelling of their surname to distance themselves from the original spelling, and this may account for some of the more obscure variants. For example, the name ‘Humberger’ is believed to have been adopted by German immigrants who wanted to stand apart from the popularized abbreviation ‘Hamburger’.
The surname is also found in a few other countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, where the spelling is usually changed to ‘Hamborg’, and Germany itself, where it is usually found spelled ‘Hamburg’.
In short, there are a large variety of spellings and surnames of similar origin for the name Hammburger. Even within the same country, families can have different versions of the same traditional surname.
Famous people with the name Hammburger
- Don Hamburger: musician, songwriter and producer
- Jennifer Hamburger: musician
- Mike Hamburger: guitarist
- Edward Hamburger: pianist
- Gary Hamburger: sculptor
- Lauren Hamburger: singer and actress
- Dan Hamburger: lawyer and editor
- Robert Hamburger: author, editor, and lecturer
- Jeff Hamburger: stand-up comedian
- Emilia Hamburger: astrophysicist
- Lillian Hamburger: cellist
- Eric Hamburger: illustrator and cartoonist
- Goldie Hamburger: voice actress
- Cara Hamburger: television producer
- Pauline Hamburger: painter
- Audrey Hamburger: writer and historian
- Scott Hamburger: comic book artist
- Leon Hamburger: singer/songwriter
- Wendy Hamburger: Broadway actress
- Spencer Hamburger: film director