Hammond

Recorded as Armand, Hammand, Hammond, Hammant, Hammon and possibly others, this is a famous Anglo-French surname, but one which can be of early Norse-Viking or later French and German origins of which it has three. The first origin is from the Norse-Viking personal name Hamundr, meaning "High protection" and possibly introduced into Britain in about the 7th century. The second is also Norse-Viking and of the same period, but from Amundr, meaning "Ancester protection". Over the centuries the two forms became literally confused and fused. The third possible origin is arguably of German origin from the personal name Haimo meaning Home, but introduced as Hammant by the Norman French invaders of England in 1066. This again became integrated and fused with the two Norse spellings. Interesting examples of namebearers include Richard Hamond of Sussex in the Subsidy Tax rolls of 1332, John Hammond who died in 1617 was physician to King James 1st of England V1th of Scotland (1603 - 1625), whilst in France Jean Antoine Armand was a christening witness at La Chappelle-Graillouse, Ardeche, on September 21st 1685. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Walter Hamund. This was dated 1242, in the Free Rolls of Herefordshire, during the reign of King Henry 111rd, and known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.