Gamba History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Italy

From the historical and fascinating Italian region of Venice emerged a multitude of noble families, including the distinguished Gamba family. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adapt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they are characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Although the most common type of family name found in the region of Venice is the patronymic surname, which is derived from the father's given name, the nickname type of surname is also frequently found. Nickname surnames were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The surname Gamba came from a person with some peculiarity of the legs or a strange walk. The surname Gambara is derived from the late Latin word gamba, which means knee, bend, or joint.

Early Origins of the Gamba family

The surname Gamba was first found in Venice where as early as the 6th century, members of the Gambara family were leaders in the military.

Early History of the Gamba family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gamba research. The years 1476 and 1485 are included under the topic Early Gamba History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gamba Spelling Variations

Surnames that originated in Italy are characterized by an enormous number of spelling variations. Some of these are derived from regional traditions and dialects. Northern names, for instance, often end in "o", while southern names tend to end in "i". Other variations come from the fact the medieval scribes tended to spell according to the sound of words, rather than any particular set of rules. The recorded variations of Gamba include Gamba, Gambi, Gambella, Gambelli, Gambetta, Gambetti, Gambitta, Gambino, Gambini, Gambin, Gambuzza, Gambozza, Gambato, Gambuti, Gambacorta, Gambadoro, Gambalesta, Gambalunga, Gambelunghe, Gambilongo, Gambacorti, Gambaloita, Gambarini, Gambazocca and many more.

Early Notables of the Gamba family

Prominent among members of the family was

Veronica Gambara, a poet in Brescia around 1485 who was of a noble family and married the Lord of Correggio. Giovanni Gamba was a professor of literature at the University of Pisa
members of the Gambacorti family of Naples were recognized as nobility in Naples, Messina, and Sciacca
Modesto Gambacorti was the Deputy of the Reign of Sicily. Lotto Gambacorti of Pisa was Archbishop of the city
the Gambaloita family of Milan owned the large territory of Terdobiate
Paolo Gambaloita was Bishop of Viterbo
Francesco Gambaloita was Knight of Saint Stefano
Alessandro Gambalunga founded the library in Rimini, a building which still stands today
Nicolao Gambarini was a professor of medicine at the University of Pavia in 1476
Fortunato Gambazocca was made a member of the legislative council in Crema by Napoleon

Gamba Ranking

In France, the name Gamba is the 6,924^th most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 1

Gamba migration to the United States +

Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Gamba or a variant listed above:

Gamba Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Amilcare Gamba, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Mailan, in 1903
Amerigo Gamba, aged 2, who settled in America from Tomo, in 1906
Adonio Gamba, aged 14, who landed in America from Villasrean, Alessandria, in 1908
Agostino Gamba, aged 23, who settled in America from Carrega, Italy, in 1910
Amos Dusolino Gamba, aged 32, who landed in America from Nazzema, Italy, in 1914
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/