Surname Hemminger - Meaning and Origin
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Hemminger: What does the surname Hemminger mean?
The last name Hemminger is a German surname with a few known origin stories. One is that the name is derived from the German word “Hemminger”, meaning ‘soothsayer’. During the Middle Ages, soothsaying was an important form of divination and the Hemminger surname could mean that the ancestors had a special connection with fortune-telling.
A second explanation is that the last name is derived from the German word “Hemminger”, meaning ‘home maker’. This may also suggest that ancestors of the Hemminger family had a role in the domestic life of the community.
A third origin story is that the surname is derived from the word “Heming”, meaning ‘goose-keeper’. This imagine could suggest that at some time in the past, a Hemminger ancestor was responsible for tending to geese for farm use.
Despite these explanations, the actual origin story of the Hemminger last name is still unclear. It is possible that this unique last name could have multiple sources, combining various elements of different origin stories. Whatever its origin, the last name Hemminger carries a distinct sense of its own identity, one woven through generations of a rich family history.
Order DNA origin analysisHemminger: Where does the name Hemminger come from?
The last name Hemminger is most commonly found in Germany and in surrounding areas of Europe. This surname predominantly occurs in Germany, but also appears in Austria, Switzerland, and France. The last name is believed to have originated from the old German language, and is derived from the words "Hemme", meaning "horn", and "inger", a suffix used to denote "one who".
The earliest records of the surname appear in documents from the 14th century, such as land grants and tax records. The surname spread throughout Germany, mostly spreading from the East to the North and then to the West as people migrated in search of better economic opportunities.
Today, the name can be found in many German-speaking countries and in areas within the United States with large populations of German immigrants, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and California. It is still a relatively uncommon last name, but there are thousands of people who use it as their last name in the United States alone.
The name continues to evolve in form in Germany, appearing in modern records with various spellings including Heminger, Heming, Hemmig, and Henmig. This is likely due to the tendency of the language to drop the letter "e" and combine other letters over time.
Variations of the surname Hemminger
The surname Hemminger is said to have its origin from the place-name “Hammering” which is a combination of the Old English words “hamor” meaning “stone” and “inga” meaning “people of.” Hence, its meaning is “those who are from the stone people” which could refer to stone miners or those who lived near a quarry.
The variations of this surname are numerous, due to the fact that spellings have evolved over time. These spellings, variants, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Hemminger include:
Heminger, Heminger, Heimiger, Hämminger, Hemminger, Haminger, Hammaker, Hämig, Hämiger, Hamelink, Humelink, Hemelink and Hemmings.
Other related surnames include: Hamill, Hamel, Hammel, Hemme, Hammell, Hemey, Hamman, Hamen, Hams, Hamac, Hemel and Hamelink. These surnames are also related to Hamm as it is derived from Hammering.
The various spellings and variants of this surname reveal its common ancestral origin and how members of the same family may have branched off into different spellings. It’s interesting to note how the meaning of this surname has also evolved over time to include those from stone quarries.
Famous people with the name Hemminger
- Bill Hemminger: American politician and former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Sherry Hemminger: American track and field athlete
- Michael Hemminger: Austrian football player
- Wilton Hemminger: American artist
- Eva Hemminger: German Olympic swimmer
- Lorraine Hemminger: American basketball coach
- Debbie Hemminger: American field hockey player
- John Hemminger: former United States Army officer
- Paul Hemminger: American scholar and professor
- Abigail Hemminger: American figure skater