Hammons History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Hammons

What does the name Hammons mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Hammons comes from Hamon, an Old French personal name brought to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

"The name appears in Normandy during the following century as a surname, for Geoffrey, Ranulph, Waleran, Richard, and Stephen Hamon or Hammon are found on the Exchequer Rolls of the Duchy in 1180-98; and, as Hammond, became common in England. The last Abbot of Battle was a Hammond." 1

Early Origins of the Hammons family

The surname Hammons was first found in Kent. The Roll of Battle Abbey reveals that two brothers, sons or grandsons of Hamon Dentatus accompanied the Conqueror in his Conquest. The first was Robert Fitz-Hamon, the renowned Conqueror of Glamorganshire and the second was Haimon, named in the Domesday Book as "Dapifer," for having received the office of Lord Steward for the King. The latter died issueless while the former had four daughters, three of which had conventual lives. 2

The remaining daughter named Mabel married Robert Fitzroy, Earl of Gloucester. Hamon Dentatus had two other sons: Richard of Granville; and Creuquer who inherited the Barony of Chatham from Robert Fitz-Hamon and many of the Kentish estates of Hamon Dapifer. 2

These estates were passed down to Haimon de Crévequer (died 1208) who had one son Robert Haimon. The latter joined the confederacy of Barons against Henry III., and as a consequence lost all his estates.

Later, West-Acre in Norfolk was home to a branch of the family. "It is the property of A. Hamond, Esq., whose seat here, High House, is a handsome mansion in the Italian style, finely situated in a well-wooded park. The church is partly in the early and partly in the later English style, with a square embattled tower, and contains the mausoleum of the Hamond family, and many beautiful monuments to several of its members." 3

Early History of the Hammons family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hammons research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1209, 1579, 1600, 1605, 1621, 1630, 1647, 1654, 1658, 1660, 1665, 1672, 1681, 1716 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hammons History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammons Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hammons has appeared include Hammond, Hammon, Hammons, Hamon, Hamond and others.

Early Notables of the Hammons family

Notables of the family at this time include Matthew Hammond (died 1579) Unitarian ploughwright from Hetherset, Norfolk, who was executed for his beliefs; Thomas Hammond (c. 1600-1658), an officer in the New Model Army and a regicide; Henry Hammond (1605-1660), an English churchman; Thomas Hammond (1630-1681), an English-born merchant and landowner who settled in Norway, father of Sara Hammond...
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hammons Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammons Ranking

In the United States, the name Hammons is the 2,262^nd most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Hammons family to Ireland

Some of the Hammons family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hammons migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Hammons arrived in North America very early:

Hammons Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Morgan Hammons, who settled in Virginia in 1670

Hammons Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Hammons, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1768

Contemporary Notables of the name Hammons (post 1700) +

David Hammons (b. 1943), American artist in New York City
Elected Constable pct. 1 Denton County Texas John Wesley Hammons jr, Elected Constable pct. 1 Denton County Texas
Foy Hammons, American football player and coach in the early 1900s through the 1930s
Debbie Healy Hammons, American politician, Democratic member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (2005-2011)
David Hammons, American politician, United States Representative from Maine (1847-1849)
Edden Hammons (1876-1955), American fiddler from West Virginia
E. W. Hammons (1882-1962), American film producer who produced 228 films between 1921 and 1938
John Tyler Hammons (b. 1988), American politician, the 47th Mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma (2008 to 2012)
James Quentin Hammons (1919-2013), American businessman, hotelier and philanthropist
John Hammons, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Louisiana, 1972 5
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Hammons Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Per tot discrimina verun
Motto Translation: Through so many dangers

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html