Surname Hamf - Meaning and Origin
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Hamf: What does the surname Hamf mean?
The last name Hamf is of German origin, meaning the 'home on the hill'. This surname is a topographical surname which was given to people who lived on or near high ground or certain symbolic hills. It is a variant of Hamme, which is believed to have been derived from a particular place described as being 'on the hill'.
The original form of the surname would have been “Ham”, which is thought to come from the Middle High German word “hamme” or “hamm”, meaning a piece of enclosed ground. The English word “home” also derives from the same root. This place name is also associated with several locations in Germany and Austria, such as Hamme and Hamm.
Early written references to the name Hamf are recorded in the 13th century and its variants Ham and Hamme are found regularly in medieval records and at times throughout the centuries.
In the 16th century, the name Hamf began to spread throughout Europe and by 1800 it was found in England, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. It was also adopted by English-speaking countries such as the United States.
As a name, Hamf is still quite unusual. Although rare, it is usually found in its current form in the country of its origin, Germany. It continues to find use in other German speaking countries including Austria, Belgium, Hungary, and Switzerland, as well as in non-German speaking countries such as Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Order DNA origin analysisHamf: Where does the name Hamf come from?
The last name Hamf is most common today in the regions of Switzerland, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium. In all of these countries, the surname is particularly concentrated in the northern regions, suggesting that the name is likely of German or Dutch origin.
In Germany, the surname Hamf can be found throughout the northern regions of the country, especially in the west. It is particularly common in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the city of Ratingen has the highest concentration of Hamf, although the surname is also found in the cities of Köln, Düsseldorf, and Dortmund.
It is also relatively common in France, particularly in the northern and central regions. The cities of Paris, Lille, Strasbourg, Bordeaux, and Nantes all have significant numbers of Hamf. In the Netherlands, it is more commonly found in the north of the country, especially in the provinces of Groningen, Friesland, and Drente.
Elsewhere in Europe, the surname is particularly concentrated in Switzerland, including the cities of Basel, Zurich, Bern, and Lausanne; in Denmark, it is particularly common in the cities of Aarhus and Copenhagen; and in Belgium, it is most frequent in the provinces of Flemish Brabant.
Variations of the surname Hamf
The surname Hamf is of English origin, and there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Common variants include Hamff, Hamfe, Hemph, Hempt, Hamfie, and Hamfy. Some less common variants include Hempton, Hampf, Hampfe, Hampfon, Hamfeet, Hamfett, and Hemphill.
When the surname Hamf is spelled differently, it may be pronounced differently as well. For example, Hamff is pronounced ‘HAM-fuh’ while Hamfe is pronounced ‘HAM-fee’.
The surname Hamf can also be spelled with phonetic variants. One such variant is Humfe, pronounced ‘HYOO-mee’, which is derived from the Old English word ‘hum‘ meaning ‘howling’.
Other surnames of similar origin include Hemphill, Hempton, and Hampstead. Hemphill is derived from the Old English word ‘ham’ meaning ‘hamlet’, while Hempton is derived from the Old English word ‘hame’ meaning ‘estate’. The surname Hampstead is derived from the Old English word ‘ham’ meaning ‘village on a hill’.
Finally, surnames of slightly different origins but which sound similar to the surname Hamf include Hanf, Hanfe, and Hand. Hanf is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word ‘hanfe’ meaning ‘reed’. Hanfe and Hand, on the other hand, are variants of the German surname Hand, which is itself a variant of the biblical name ‘Hans’.
Famous people with the name Hamf
- John Hamf: Award-winning American sculptor
- Eric Hamf: NFL running back
- Michelle Hamf: American actress
- Robert Hamf: British actor
- Thomas Hamf: Former German midfielder
- Paul Hamf: Grammy award-winning Australian rock musician
- Rachel Hamf: Canadian comedian
- Maurice Hamf: French concentric rhythm guitarist
- David Hamf: Award-winning British journalist
- Boris Hamf: German-American astronomer