This German surname of AMMERMAN was an occupational name for administrative official or head of a community owing allegiance to a feudal superior. The name was from an assimilated form of AMTMANN meaning retainer. The surname is most common in southern Germany and Switzerland. Occupational surnames originally denoted the actual occupation followed by the individual. At what period they became hereditary is a difficult problem. Many of the occupation names were descriptive and could be varied. In the Middle Ages, at least among the Christian population, people did not usually pursue specialized occupations exclusively to the extent that we do today, and they would, in fact, turn their hand to any form of work that needed to be done, particularly in a large house or mansion, or on farms and smallholdings. In early documents, surnames often refer to the actual holder of an office, whether the church or state. A notable member of the name was Othmar Hermann AMMANN (l879-l965) He was a Swiss born American structural engineer born in Schaffhausen. He emigrated to the United States in l904 to work with the Pennsylvania Steel Company. Later he designed some of America's greatest suspension bridges, including the George Washington Bridge in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge in New York which was built in l965. Each in its day had the longest span in the world. The first hereditary surnames on German soil are found in the second half of the 12th century, slightly later than in England and France. However, it was not until the 16th century that they became stabilized. The practice of adopting hereditary surnames began in the southern areas of Germany, and gradually spread northwards during the Middle Ages.The first hereditary surnames on German soil are found in the second half of the 12th century, slightly later than in England and France. However, it was not until the 16th century that they became stabilized. The practice of adopting hereditary surnames began in the southern areas of Germany, and gradually spread northwards during the Middle Ages.