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Bamber History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Bamber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Bamber family

The surname Bamber was first found in Lancashire, at Bamber-Bridge, an ecclesiastical district, in the chapelry of Walton-le-Dale, parish, and Lower division of the hundred, of Blackburn, union of Preston. 1 2

Alternatively, the family could have originated in Bambrough, a parish, in the union of Belford, N. division of Bambrough ward and of Northumberland. "Bambrough, originally called Bebbanburg, was prior to the Conquest a royal burgh, and the residence of several of the kings of Northumbria. It sent two members to parliament in the 23rd of Edward I., and in the reign of Edward III. furnished one ship for the expedition against Calais. " 1

Nearby is Bambrough-Castle, a township, in the parish, and N. division of the ward, of Bambrough, union of Belford. "This township is principally distinguished for its castle, built about the middle of the sixth century, by Ida, the first Anglo-Saxon king of Northumbria. In 642 it was besieged by Penda, King of Mercia, who, after an unsuccessful attempt to set it on fire, was compelled to retreat. " 1

Thomas de Baumburgh (fl. 1332), was Clerk of the Chancery and Keeper of the Great Seal. He is mentioned in 1328 as then holding the living of Emildon in Northumberland. 3

Early History of the Bamber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bamber research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1400, 1607, 1613, 1623, 1624, 1631, 1639, 1646 and 1987 are included under the topic Early Bamber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bamber Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Bamber are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Bamber include: Bamber, Bambar, Bambere, Bamburgh and others.

Early Notables of the Bamber family

Distinguished members of the family include

Edward Bamber (executed 1646), an English Roman Catholic priest, beatified in 1987

Migration of the Bamber family to Ireland

Some of the Bamber family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bamber migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Bamber or a variant listed above:

Bamber Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Bamber who settled in Virginia in 1734

Bamber Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Margaret and Robert Bamber, who settled in New England in 1805

Bamber migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Bamber Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Daniel Bamber, (b. 1800), aged 19, English farm labourer who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he was killed in 1826 4
Mr. Robert Bamber, English convict who was convicted in Salford, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
Mr. William Bamber, British Convict who was convicted in Salford, Greater Manchester, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 6
Charles Bamber, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Isabella Watson" in 1846 7
Charles Bamber a surgeon, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Isabella Watson" in 1846 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Bamber (post 1700) +

William Walker Bamber (1881-1939), American Republican politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from St. Louis County 1st District, 1925-32 8
Horatio Bamber, American politician, Dry Candidate for Delegate to New York convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 8
John Belfield Bamber (1912-2000), English footballer
John "Jack" Bamber (1895-1971), English football defender
John David "Dave" Bamber (b. 1959), English former professional footballer
Helen Bamber OBE (b. 1925), English psychotherapist who worked with Holocaust survivors in Germany after the concentration camps were liberated in 1945, one of founder of Amnesty International
Jamie Bamber (b. 1973), English actor
Helen Rae Bamber OBE (1925-2014), née Balmuth, a British psychotherapist and human rights activist who helped establish Amnesty International
Jim Bamber (1948-2014), British artist and editorial cartoonist from Preston, Lancashire
Earl Anderson Bamber (b. 1990), New Zealand motor racing driver and commentator from Wanganui
... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Bamber Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fortis et egregius
Motto Translation: Bold and excellent.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ISABELLA WATSON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846IsabellaWatson.htm
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html