View Message

This particular form is Dutch (the van is unmistakably Dutch). Other Dutch variants are Van Hommerig and Hommerig. But the surname has also a German root (and possibly all of them at the end are of German origin). These names are Hommerich, Hemmerich, Hummerich, Hümrich, et cetera.

The following links are in German, but I'll try to give you an adequate translation of the important parts of the text:

http://www.gfds.de/beratung2.html (takes a while to load and the appropiate part is a bit down...search for Hommerich and you'll find it)

Hummerich, Hummrich, Hümmerich and Hümrich are from the regions Mittelrhein and Westenwald (not sure if those are official, marked regions or just to give you an idea of the approximate area). The places in question are both called Hümmerich and they're to be found in:

1. bei Rengsdorf/Kreis Neuwied
2. Wüstung bei Marienhausen/Unterwesterwaldkreis)

Other places:
Homperich (bei Ratingen)
Hommerich (jeweils bei Hennef, Lindlar und Düsseldorf)
Hömerich (Berg westl. Gummersbach)

from the above places are names like Hommerich and Homerich.

there are also places in Germany called Hemmerich. i found a site about the history of one of them, it's here:
http://www.jgv-hemmerich.de/brauchtum/geschichtehemmerichs/geschichtehemmerich.htm

the contents draw the same conclusion as the previous link, but the previous link shows us how the path from Hohenberg to Hommerich:

[...Zur Bedeutung des Ortsnamens: Die Wüstung Hümmerich erscheint in urkundlichen Schreibungen als Hoenberg (1386), Hoemberg (1488) und Hommerich (1593). Aus der ältesten Form Hoenberg kann mit großer Sicherheit eine ursprüngliche Bezeichnung (am) hohen Berg erschlossen werden, eine Ortsbezeichnung, die im deutschen Sprachgebiet häufig nachzuweisen ist und zu zahlreichen heutigen Ortsnamen wie Hohenberg, Ho(h)berg, Homberg geführt hat. Der Name der Westerwaldorte ist in seiner Schreibung im Laufe der Jahrhunderte der mundartlichen Aussprache angeglichen worden, wobei -berg über -berch, -berich schließlich zu -(m)erich wurde (mit Assimilation von -mb- zu -mm- wie etwa in Lamm aus älterem Lamb). Ganz entsprechende Entwicklungen sind für weitere Ortsnamen nachzuweisen, vgl. z. B. Hemmerich (bei Bornheim) über Hemberch (1320) aus Heymberg (1208), Hammerich aus Hamberg, Sommerich aus Sommerberg....]

Translation (more or less):
As to the meaning of the placenames: the "Wüstung" Hümmerich appears in written documents as Hoenberg (1386), Hoemberg (1488) und Hommerich (1593). Of the oldest form Hoenberg it can be said with certainty that the original meaning was '(am) hohen Berg' (which translates like '(at the) high mountain'), a meaning of a placename that is many times to be found in the area where German is spoken, like numerous placenames of today as Hohenberg, Ho(h)berg, Homberg. The name of the 'Westerwald'-place is in its writing through the century (heavy) influenced by the spoken language of the region, where -berg through -berch , -berich in the end became -(m)erich (with assimilation of -mb- to -mm- like with Lamm out of the earlier Lamb ...note the connection with English lamb ?). Exactly the same developments can be found in other placenames, see for example Hemmerich (bei Bornheim) through Hemberch (1320) out of Heymberg (1208), Hammerich out of Hamberg, Sommerich out of Sommerberg.

note: Sommerich and Sommerberg are not related to Hommerich, but have the same change/development.

hope i helped and if Andy notes a translation mistake, just tell me (as i understand that Andy is German or speaks German fluently).