A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Hammel family of Germany.
Reg. 7740 · German, G–I
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
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Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“De sa. à un bélier ramp. d'arg. C.: le bélier, iss.”
SaxonySaxony, c. 1765
Where the Hammel Arms Were Recorded
Saxony
Map of Germany showing where the Hammel arms are recorded
The Hammel arms were recorded in Saxony, c. 1765.
Saxony had mines, trade and old landed families all at once. Silver made some fortunes and land held others, and both sorts of family kept arms, which is why Saxon names appear so often in the registers.
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.
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
1745–1765
Reigning in Germany when the Hammel 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 Saxony.
Origin & History of the Hammel Family in Germany
The surname Hammel has deep roots in the German-speaking regions of Europe, particularly within the historic territory of Saxony. During the mid-18th century, the name was well-established in this area, as evidenced by records confirming family members living there by 1765. Linguistically, the name is often linked to the Middle High German word *hamel*, which originally referred to a male sheep or a ram. In medieval times, such names were frequently used as descriptive nicknames for individuals who possessed traits associated with the animal, such as strength or stubbornness, or they may have been occupational names for those who worked as shepherds. As the family grew, they became part of the local social fabric of Saxony, likely participating in the agricultural and trade-based economy that defined the region during the Enlightenment era. Over generations, the name transitioned from a simple descriptor into a permanent family identifier that was passed down through the centuries.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ham
A Germanic personal name derived from the word for home.
This name
HammelA diminutive form referring to a dweller at a home or homestead.
also spelled
Hamel
Related arms
Hamelvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bahlow, Hans, Deutsches Namenlexikon: Familien- und Vornamen nach Ursprung und Sinn erklärt, 1967
Heintze, Albert, Die deutschen Familien-Namen: geschichtlich, geographisch, sprachlich, 1903
Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, Kirchenbücher der evangelisch-lutherischen Landeskirche Sachsens, 1765
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