HAMILL Family History

This interesting and unusual surname has two possible sources, the first being Scottish but also ultimately of Norman origin, and a locational name from the place called "Haineville" or "Henneville" in Manche. The placename derives from the Germanic personal name "hagano", which means "hawthorn", and was originally a nickname, found in medieval England as "Hain" and "Heyne", with the Old French word "ville", meaning ettlement, village. The surname may also be of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an example of the sizeable group of early European surnames that were gradually created from the habitual use of nicknames. The nicknames were given in the first instance with reference to a variety of characteristics, such as physical attributes or peculiarities, mental and moral characteristics, including supposed resemblance to an animal's or bird's appearance or disposition, or to habits of dress and occupation...

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