The Hamilton Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Hamilton, its origins in Scotland, and the story behind a Hamilton family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Hamilton coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Hamilton name
Hamilton is a Scottish surname of English origin, from Hambleton, a place name meaning "crooked hill". Walter fitz Gilbert of Hameldone received lands at Cadzow in Lanarkshire in the early fourteenth century, and the town there later took the family's name. Hamilton is very common in Scotland, Ulster and North America.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Hamilton name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Hamilton name in Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Hamilton family history
The complete Hamilton pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Hamilton name FAQ
What does the Hamilton name mean?
From Hambleton, "crooked hill". Common variants include Hambleton, Hamelton, Hamiltoun.
Where does the Hamilton surname come from?
It originates in Scotland, and is also found in Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada.
Is there a Hamilton coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Hamilton crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Hamilton coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; US Census Bureau 2010.