A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hamman family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
Reg. 6388 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
legStrength and swiftness
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Coupé d'azur sur or; à une jambe de derrière d'un porc au nat., en pal, coupé de gu., le pied en bas, le genou à sen. Cq. cour. C.: un homme iss., hab. d'azur à brandebourgs d'or, au rabat du même, la tête environnée d'un brl. d'arg. et coiffé d'un chapeau piramidal d'azur, retr. de gu., sommé d'une boule d'or portant trois pl. d'aut. d'arg. L. d'or et d'azur.”
GermanyMunich, c. 1725
Where the Hamman Arms Were Recorded
Munich
Map of Germany showing where the Hamman arms are recorded
The Hamman arms were recorded in Munich, c. 1725.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Germany in this period.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
1711–1740
Reigning in Germany when the Hamman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Germany
In the Holy Roman Empire, coats of arms were often granted to individuals by the Emperor or his representatives. These arms were then passed down through the generations to all legitimate descendants of the original holder. Younger branches of a family usually kept the same shield design without needing to change it, as the arms belonged to the entire lineage.
Granting authority
The Holy Roman Emperor held the sole power to grant new coats of arms throughout his vast imperial territories.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal imperial grant or by proving their noble status to the authorities.
Where arms were recorded
These grants were officially recorded in the Imperial Chancery registers, which began keeping formal records of such honors during the Middle Ages.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Germany.
Origin & History of the Hamman Family in Germany
The surname Hamman has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, where it likely originated as a descriptive name or a shortened form of a longer Germanic given name. By the early 18th century, the family was well-established in the cultural landscape of Munich, as evidenced by records confirming their presence in the city by 1725. During this period, Munich was a growing center of trade and craftsmanship under the influence of the Wittelsbach dynasty. Families like the Hammans often lived in urban centers where they contributed to the local economy as artisans, merchants, or skilled laborers. As the family moved through the generations, the name persisted as a marker of their regional identity, reflecting the broader social shifts occurring in Bavaria during the transition into the modern era.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fireZeal and purification
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 les armes de 1549; aux 2 et 3 d'or à une barre d'arg., ch. d'un bes. d'or bordé de sa. et de deux fleurs-de-lis d'or posées dans le sens de la barre; ladite barre ch. en outre de flammes d'or, iss. de ses angles en haut et en bas. Cq. cour. C.: celui de 1549.”
Francec. 1673
Where the Hamman Arms Were Recorded
Bretagne
Map of France showing where the Hamman arms are recorded
The Hamman arms were recorded in France, c. 1673.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Bretagne.
More families held coats of arms in Bretagne than anywhere else in France. The land was divided into many small estates rather than a few large ones, so far more households counted as gentry, and each needed a shield of its own to be told apart.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in France in this period.
Louis XIV of France
Sovereign of the period
Louis XIV of France
1643–1715
Reigning in Germany when the Hamman arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in France
In France, a coat of arms was a mark of honor that passed down through the male line to all legitimate descendants. Families often used the same shield without changes to show their shared heritage. If a branch wanted to stand out, they could add a small mark to their shield to show their specific place in the family tree.
Granting authority
The Juge d'armes de France acted as the official authority that regulated and verified coats of arms across the country.
How they got arms
Families typically inherited their arms from ancestors, though they could also receive them through royal grants or by proving their noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Coats of arms were officially recorded in the Armorial Général de France, which began its main collection in the year 1696.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of France.
Origin & History of the Hamman Family in France
The family name Hamman has deep roots in the historical region of Bretagne, where records confirm members of the family were established by 1673. In this coastal area of northwestern France, the name likely emerged as a descriptive identifier or a variation of local Germanic and Frankish naming traditions that persisted long after the Middle Ages. During the seventeenth century, families in Bretagne often lived in small, tight-knit rural communities centered around agriculture or maritime trade. The presence of the Hamman name in these parish records suggests that the family was part of the local social fabric, likely participating in the distinct cultural and linguistic traditions that defined the Breton identity of the time. As the family moved through the generations, they remained connected to the regional history of western France, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and settlement that shaped the demographics of the French provinces during the early modern period.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Hamo
A Germanic personal name derived from the element ham meaning home.
This name
HammanA patronymic surname indicating a descendant of someone named Hamo or a home-dweller.
also spelled
Haman
Hammen
Related arms
Hamanvariant spelling
Hamannvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
legStrength and swiftness
legStrength and swiftness
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fireZeal and purification
