Family History

Origins of the Surname

Variations of the Surname

Direct Ancestors

Family Location Information

Source Documents

Website Resources

Family Images Gallery

Contact Information

Family History

     My Gamer family ancestors lived in that area of present day Germany which lies in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. This lineage has been traced back to my 9^th great-grandfather Casper Gamer.  Casper was born around 1639 most likely in or near the village of Staffort which is now in the Karlsruhe District.

     Caspers’s son Hans Martin was born at Staffort around 1661.  I am descended through Martin’s  daughter Anna Margaretha born at Staffort in 1686.  She  married Antonius Muller a native of nearby Blankenloch.  Anna Margaretha produced at least four known children during her marriage.     She passed away in 1729 at Blankenloch.  It is through her daughter Eva Muller that my lineage continues.  Eva emmigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in 1751 and is therefore recognized as being an immigrant ancestor.

Name Meaning  and History

Research into the history of this Gamer family line indicates that the meaning and history of this surname is most likely linked to that area of Europe where the German* language is commonly spoken.    Although this spelling is not found in the Dictionary of American Family Names , it is most likely a variation of Kämmer an occupational name for a comb maker or a wool comber or fuller, from an agent derivative of Middle High German kam(b), kam(me) ‘comb’, or Kammer  meaning a ‘chamber’, ‘storage chamber’, ‘treasury’, hence an occupational name for a chamberlain or treasurer.  First found in Bavaria, where the name Kammer was anciently associated with the tribal conflicts of the area. 

Early Immigrants to North America

During the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th centuries hundreds of thousands of Europeans made the perilous ocean voyage to North America.  For many it was an escape from economic hardship and religious persecution.  For most it was an opportunity for to start over, own their own land, and make a better future for their descendents. Immigration records show a number of people bearing the name of Gamer, or one of its variants, as arriving in North America between the 17^th and 20^th centuries.  Some of these immigrants were: Carl Kammer, who arrived with his family in New York city in 1850; Daniel Kammer, who came to Philadelphia in 1768; Hans Peter Kammer, who took an oath of allegiance to the state of Pennsylvania in 1772.

 * German Surname Meanings & Origins

 Many German names have their roots in the Germanic middle ages. The process of forming family names began around the year 1100 and extended through 1600. All social classes and demographic strata aided in the development of names. First Names (Rufnamen) identified specific persons. Over time the first name began to be applied to the bearer's whole family. At first through verbal usage, family names (Familiennamen) were later fixed through writing. Until the 17th century, first names played a more important role. The earliest family names derived from the first name of the first bearer (Patronym). Later names derived from the place of dwelling and location of the homestead. If a person of family migrated from one place to another they were identified by the place they came from. Of more recent origin are names derived from the vocation of profession of the first bearer. These names comprise the largest group and the most easily recognizable, for they tell what the first bearer did for a living. Another group are names derived from a physical or other characteristic of the first bearer. Finally, there are names that tell you the state or region a first bearer and his family came from; the age old division in tribes and regions (low German, middle German and upper German) is often reflected in names.

Variations of the surname

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames because in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized.  Later on spellings would change with the branching and movement of families.  Spelling variations of this family name include: Kammer, Kamer, Kammere, Kammeres, Kammers, Kammerr, Kammerrs, Kamerrs, Kamerr, Kammerer, Cammer and many more. 

The complexity of researching records is compounded by the fact that in many cases an ancestors surname may also have been misspelled.  This is especially true when searching census documents. The Soundex system was developed in an effort to assist with identifying spelling variations for a given surname.  Soundex is a method of indexing names in the 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 US Census, and can aid genealogists in their research.  The Soundex Code for Gammer is G560.  Other surnames sharing this Soundex Code: GAINER | GAYNOR | GOYMOUR | GWINNER | . 

Source: Surname Resources at ROOTSWEB

Searching for more Information about this and other surnames?

Then take a look at our:

SURNAME LOCATOR RESOURCES WEBPAGE

Direct ancestors

Additional information about my DIRECT ANCESTORS and their

families may be reviewed by clicking on the name LINK(s) below.

NAME

BIRTH / DEATH / LOCATIONS

GAMER, Caspar

b: ABT 1639 in < Staffort, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany>

GAMER, Hans Martin

b: ABT 1661 in Staffort, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

d: AFT 1702 in Germany

GAMER, Anna Margaretha

b: 11 JAN 1686/87 in Staffort, Karlsruhe, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

d: 29 MAR 1729 in Blankenloch, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany

The following LINK will take you to a complete listing of individuals in my database with this surname.

DKPS Surname Locator

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Search Help from Google

This free genealogy site to help you get the best genealogy searches from Google™ by using your family tree, for your research. It will create a series of different searches using tips or "tricks" that

will likely improve your results. The different searches will give you many different ways of using Google and the Internet to find ancestry information about this or any other Surname. 

Researching the locations where my ancestors lived has provided me with valuable evidence needed to fill-in the gaps in my family trees.  It has also led me to many interesting facts that enhance the overall picture of each family group.  The names of states and counties on the following list were derived from the known places where the persons in the “Direct Ancestors” list (see above) were born, married, and/or died.

COUNTRY

STATE

COUNTY / SUBDIVISION

GERMANY

BADEN-WURTTEMBERG

Karlsruhe (Blankenloch, Staffort)

Use this LINK to find out more about the locations listed above.

ANCESTRAL LOCATIONS

The documents and headstones contained within the “Source Documents Archives” have been located during my research of this family, and used as evidence to prove many of the facts contained within the database of this family’s record.

     Most of these documents can be considered as primary or secondary evidence.  Primary evidence is usually defined as the best available to prove the fact in question, usually in an original document or record.  Secondary evidence is in essence all that evidence which is inferior in its origin to primary evidence. That does not mean secondary evidence is always in error, but there is a greater chance of error.  Examples of this type of evidence would be a copy of an original record, or oral testimony of a record’s contents.  Published genealogies and family histories are also secondary evidence.

     Classifying evidence as either primary or secondary does not tell anything about its accuracy or ultimate value.  This is especially true of secondary evidence.  Thus it is always a good idea to ask the following questions: (1) How far removed from the original is it, (when it is a copy)?;  (2) What was the reason for the creation of the source which contains this evidence?; and (3) Who was responsible for creating this secondary evidence and what interest did they have in its accuracy?

SOURCE:  Greenwood, Val D., The Researcher’s Guide to American Genealogy, 2^nd edition, Genealogical Publishing  Co., Baltimore, MD 21202, 1990, pgs. 62-63

You are welcome to download any of the documents contained within this archive.

  Should you encounter a problem obtaining a copy you may get in touch with

 us via the contact information found at the end of this page.

Use the following LINK to view the source documents pertaining to this family.

SOURCE DOCUMENTS

The following search engine and websites may provide you with additional

information to assist with your research about persons with this surname.

Your genealogy research of this surname can be facilitated by use of SURNAME WEB. This website links to the majority of the surname data on the web, as well as to individual family trees, origin and surname meaning if known, and many other related genealogy resources. 

SURNAME FINDER provides easy access to free and commercial resources for 1,731,359 surnames. On each surname specific "finder" page, you can search a variety of online databases all pre-programmed with your surname.

Use the following link to get access to millions of genealogy and surname records with a FREE surname search at THE GENEALOGY REGISTER.

Additional Sites That We Recommend

Linkpendium Surnames - Web sites, obituaries, biographies, and other material specific to a surname.

Cyndi's List - Surnames, Family Associations & Family Newsletters Index - Sites or resources dedicated to specific, individual family surnames.

Free Genealogy Search Help for Google - This free genealogy site will help you use Google™ for your research. It will create a series of different searches using tips or "tricks" that will likely improve your results. The different searches will give you many different ways of using Google to find ancestry information on the Internet. 

FamilySearch.org - Family History and Genealogy Records - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.

Top Genealogical Websites - These mighty roots resources compiled by “Family Tree Magazine”, will give you the power to bust through research brick walls and find answers about your ancestors—all from your home computer.

SurnameDB Free database of surname meanings - This site SurnameDB.Com contains a large FREE to access database (almost 50,000 surnames) on the history and meaning of family last names.

During my research I have collected images and photographs that are of general interest to a particular family.  Some of them are presented on this website because I believe they tend to provide the reader with additional information which may aid in the understanding of our ancestors past lives.

If you have any photographs or other images relating to this

ancestral family we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Use the following LINK to ascertain whether we have any images that pertain to this family.

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS and IMAGES

Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA

Email

Snail Mail:

Fred
889 Dante Ct.
Mantua, NJ 08051

USA