Surname Hammes - Meaning and Origin
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Rediscovering Myself: An unexpected journey into my Hammes ancestry through iGENEA DNA testing
"Seeking a direct connection to their past, our author undergoes a DNA test using iGENEA and uncovers legendary ancestral lineage. Discover how my identity unfolded unexpectedly to include German, Viking and Irish roots, giving me renewed self-understanding."
Z. Hammes
read moreHammes: What does the surname Hammes mean?
The last name Hammes is of German origin. It is derived from the German word "hamme" which referred to an old-fashioned tool used to strike stones or metal. It was also a nickname for a strong and energetic person.
The name Hammes is related to a number of toponyms scattered across Germany and the Netherlands. It could also be associated with a former profession as a naval architect or builder of heavy equipment.
The modern spelling of Hammes also appears in several English language translations of German documents from the 17th century. Notably, it was included in the 1684 document “Confionatae Decretalia Synodalia” as a variation of the family name “Hemmes”.
The name is still commonly used in Germany today. It is also found across the world, particularly in Europe and America as the result of migration.
The name Hammes generally reflects a person with strength and endurance, positive traits for successful life. It is therefore a name associated with a sense of hard work and perseverance.
Order DNA origin analysisHammes: Where does the name Hammes come from?
Hammes is a surname which is believed to have originated in Germany. It is most commonly found today in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. It is also fairly common in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries with large German-speaking populations.
In Germany, Hammes is still quite prominent. In fact, it is the 97th most popular German last name, with over 14,000 people sharing this name. In Austria, the name ranks even higher: It is the 91st most popular surname, with over 2,100 people bearing it. In the Netherlands, it is less common; it ranks 320th with around 1,000 people having this surname.
The United States is another country with a considerable number of people with the last name Hammes. As of 2012, it was among the top 10,600 surnames in the United States. In Canada, the name is still prominent; according to the 2011 census, it ranks in the top 17,000 surnames, with roughly 4,000 individuals having it.
In Australia, Hammes is also quite popular. According to the database Search Australia, the name ranks 1,612th in the country, with around 400 people having it. In all other countries, the name is much less common, though there still exists a considerable population of people with this surname in many countries in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.
Variations of the surname Hammes
The surname Hammes is a derivative of the German word for ‘hammers’. It is predominantly found among families of German descent in North America, South America, and Europe.
The spelling and variants related to the name Hammes include:
Haemmerlein – derived from the Middle High German word “haemerlîn” meaning “little hammer”
Hamml – a German surname meaning “hammer”
Hammerla – derived from the German words “ham” and “erle” meaning “hammer man”
Hammers – an alternate spelling of Hammes
Hammerschlag – a German surname meaning “hammer strike”
Hammersmith – a Scottish surname meaning “hammer maker”
Hammerstein – derived from the German words “hammer” and “stein” meaning “stone”
Hammerschmidt – a German surname meaning “hammer smith”
Hammerschmitt – an alternative spelling of Hammerschmidt
Hammerslick – derived from the German words “hammer” and “Licht" meaning “light”
Mehlem – a German surname meaning “hammer”
Other surnames of the same origin include Hammer, Hammerling, Hammele, Hammeler, Hammerer, and Hammerle.
The most common surnames related to the name Hammes are Hammers, Hammersmith, Hammerstein, Hammerla, and Hamml.
Famous people with the name Hammes
- Carla Hammes: German model and former Miss Germany
- Franz Hammes: German royal family patriarch
- Lenny Hammes: Former professional American baseball player
- Michael Hammes: German professional ice hockey player
- Allen Hammes: American author and professor
- Ed Hammes: American television writer
- Edmond Hammes: Former professional American football player
- Wilbur Hammes: Prolific early 20th-century American watercolorist
- Bernard Hammes: German Catholic theologian
- Johannes Hammes: German Roman Catholic Cardinal and Archbishop Emeritus of Cologne