Show ContentsAmmer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ammer

What does the name Ammer mean?

The Ammer surname comes from the baptismal name Emmerich, which was originally derived from the Old German word that means ruler.

Early Origins of the Ammer family

The surname Ammer was first found in the Rhine region, where the name was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. They declared allegiances to many nobles and princes of early history, lending their influence in struggles for power and status within the region. The name may have its origin in the ancient Roman colony of Embrika or Emrik, mentioned as early as the 7th century, which became a possession of Brandenburg in 1609. They branched into many houses, and their contributions were sought by many leaders in their search for power.

Early History of the Ammer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ammer research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1559, 1732, 1742, 1813, 1824 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Ammer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ammer Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Ammer include Emmerich, Emmrich, Emerich, Emrich, Emmerick, Emerick, Emmerik, Emerik, Aemerich, Aemerik and many more.

Early Notables of the Ammer family

Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ammer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Ammer migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Ammer were among of the early German families that came to North America:

Ammer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Durst Ammer, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1749 1
  • Johan Ulrich Ammer, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1795 1


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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