Surname Hammond - Meaning and Origin

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V. Hammond

Hammond: What does the surname Hammond mean?

The surname Hammond is of early medieval English origin, derived from the Norman personal name "Hamon," which, in turn, arises from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements "haim" or "heim," meaning "home," and "nod," meaning "courage," "strength," or "protection." Therefore, the surname Hammond can essentially mean "home strength" or "home protection." As a patronymic surname, it typically would have been given to the son of a person named Hamon. The Normans introduced this name to Britain after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and it eventually became one of the most popular personal names during the Middle Ages. Over the centuries, variations such as Hammon, Hammen, Hammant and others have evolved. Like many surnames, geographical and regional factors often led to these variations.

Hammond: Where does the name Hammond come from?

The last name Hammond is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Germanic personal name "Haimund," which is composed of the elements "haim," meaning home, and "mund," meaning protection. Therefore, the name can be translated to mean "home-protection". The name could have been a professional surname for a keeper of hawks or a nickname for someone with a brave or bold disposition.

The Hammond surname was first found in the Norfolk region of England, where the Hammond family held a family seat from ancient times. However, the surname spread throughout Britain, particularly in Scotland and Wales, in the subsequent centuries.

Today, the Hammond surname is common in many English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. According to surname distribution data, it's most prevalent in the United States, followed by England. In the United States, it is most dense in Maine. As of today, the greatest number of Hammonds can be found in the Northeastern United States and Greater London in England.

Variations of the surname Hammond

The Hammond surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a patronymic name derived from the personal name Hamon, which is the Norman form of the name Haimo. It means "home" and signifies a person who is vocal or protects his property. Variants of the name include Hammant, Hamment, Hommon, Hammon, Hammons, and Hamman.

Moreover, similar variants and pet names are around such as Hamnet, Hamnett, Hamming, Hamm, among others. It is also prevalent in the United Kingdom and Ireland where various geographical spelling variants can be found, each one having evolved over time due to regional dialects and handwriting.

Further, spelling variations in the Middle Ages were common even among the literate as there were no standardized rules for spelling English words during this era. So, Hammond and its variants have been recorded as Hammon, Hamon, Haman, Hambon, and these changes continued even after the formation of the United States where populations of immigrants often chose to Americanize their surnames.

It's worth mentioning that there are also several surnames of similar origins across Europe, such as Hamond, Hemond in France, and Hämäläinen in Finland, which mean similar things.

Famous people with the name Hammond

• Albert Hammond: British-Gibraltarian singer-songwriter known for multiple internationally renowned hits.
• Richard Hammond: British journalist and television presenter best known for co-hosting the BBC program "Top Gear".
• John Hays Hammond Jr: An American inventor known for his work as a mining engineer and his developments in radio control.
• Darrell Hammond: American actor, stand-up comedian and impressionist. He was a regular on Saturday Night Live for several years.
• Albert Hammond Jr: American guitarist and member of the rock band The Strokes. He is also the son of Albert Hammond.
• Fred Hammond: Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.
• Joan Hammond: Australian operatic soprano, widely admired for her powerful voice.
• Laurens Hammond: American inventor and engineer, most notably known for creating the Hammond organ.
• Nicholas Hammond: American-Australian actor and writer, known for his role in the film "The Sound of Music".
• Peter Hammond: British film, television and theatre director.
• Craig Hammond: New Zealand rugby union player.
• William Alexander Hammond: American neurologist and the 11th Surgeon General of the U.S. Army (1862–1864).
• Michael Hammond: British composer, conductor, and music producer.

Other surnames

HammonHammondsHammondtreeHammonsHammontreHammontreeHammoudHammoudi