Gambel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Gambel is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the given name Gamel, which was common among the Danes and the Normans. The name Gambel was ultimately derived from the Old Norman word Gamall, which means old.

Another source notes: "this surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gamel,' a once popular but now forgotten North-English personal name. It is compounded with many local names. The modern accepted surname form is Gamble and Gambles." 1

Early Origins of the Gambel family

The surname Gambel was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Gamel is listed. 2 Later in Yorkshire, Gamel Auceps was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1158 and later again, Simon Gamel was found in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1202. Back in Yorkshire, Adam Gamel was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1260. Jordan Gambel was also listed in 1297. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 mentions Huttred filius Gamelli in Northumberland and Alan filius Gamel in Shropshire. Much later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Elena Gamyll; Henricus Gamyll; Johannes Gamyll; and Johannes Gamolson as all holding lands there at that time. 1

"Fitz Gamell is also found. From the Anglo-Saxon gamol or gamel, old, aged. It is compounded with some Domesday names, as Gamel-bar, ' old bear' - Gamel-carle, 'old male,' - both in Yorkshire." 4

Early History of the Gambel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gambel research. Another 61 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1158, 1297, 1450, 1618, 1629, 1640, 1659, 1663, 1666, 1670, 1687, 1865 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gambel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gambel Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Gambel include Gamble, Gambel, Gambol and others.

Early Notables of the Gambel family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Gamble (died 1687), composer and musician in the court of King Charles I of England and King Charles II of...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gambel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gambel family to Ireland

Some of the Gambel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 243 words (17 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gambel migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Gambels to arrive on North American shores:

Gambel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nicho Gambel, who landed in Virginia in 1701 5

Gambel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Josephe Gambel, (Gombel), aged 28, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Neptune"
Mr. John Gambel, aged 57, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Antoinette"
Mrs. Eliz. Gambel, (nee Sinz) aged 45, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Antoinette"
Mr. Jacob Gambel, aged 24, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Antoinette"
Mr. John Gambel, aged 15, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1848 aboard the ship "Antoinette"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)