Show ContentsLambe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Lambe is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was a name for someone who was a gentle-hearted person. The surname Lambe originally derived from a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames. As a nickname surname it could refer either directly or indirectly to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. Another source claims that "the name was probably taken from the sign of a lamb at an inn, the young of the sheep kind." [1] And yet another source claims that the name was a baptismal name as in " 'the son of Lambert,' from Lamb the nickname." [2] [3]

Early Origins of the Lambe family

The surname Lambe was first found in Northumberland where they were Lords of the manor of West Denton; although, the earliest recorded record of this surname found was of Edward, Wulmar Lamb, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Kent in 1195. [3]

The name was "pretty well dispersed over England, except in the south coast counties from Devon to Kent. At present it is most numerous in the north of England, in the counties of Northumberland and Durham." [4]

Other early records of the family include listings as they appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: William le Lambe, Cambridgeshire; Richard le Lam, Northamptonshire; and Ingrida Lomb, Huntingdonshire. [2]

Early History of the Lambe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lambe research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1450, 1504, 1545, 1628, 1715 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lambe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lambe Spelling Variations

Lambe has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Lambe have been found, including Lamb, Lambe, Lam and others.

Early Notables of the Lambe family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Walter Lambe (1450-1504), an English composer, many of his works appear in the Eton Chioirbook

Lambe Ranking

In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Lambe is the 721st most popular surname with an estimated 60 people with that name. [5]

Ireland Migration of the Lambe family to Ireland

Some of the Lambe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Lambe migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Lambes to arrive on North American shores:

Lambe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Abra Lambe, who landed in Virginia in 1653 [6]
  • John Lambe, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 [6]
Lambe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Adam Lambe, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 [6]
  • Christian Lambe, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1786-1808 [6]
Lambe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Fountaine Lambe, who landed in New York in 1825 [6]
  • Nenom Lambe, who landed in Mississippi in 1835 [6]
  • Pat Lambe, who arrived in Arkansas in 1874 [6]

Canada Lambe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lambe Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Australia Lambe migration to Australia +

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

Lambe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Anna Lambe, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Helena" in 1850 [8]
  • Decimas Lambe, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1851 [9]

Contemporary Notables of the name Lambe (post 1700) +

  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Lambe GCB, CVO (1900-1960), Royal Navy admiral, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 1959 until 1960
  • Air Vice Marshal Sir Charles Laverock Lambe KCB, CMG, DSO, RAF (1875-1953), Royal Air Force air marshal
  • Lawrence Morris Lambe (1849-1934), Canadian paleontologist from the Geological Survey of Canada who first described the diverse and plentiful dinosaur discoveries from the fossil beds in Alberta
  • Reggie Lambe (b. 1991), Bermudian professional footballer


The Lambe 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: Virtute et fide
Motto Translation: By valour and faith.


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  6. 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)
  7. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PANAMA 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850PrincessHelena.gif
  9. State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1851 from London 12 05 1851 and southampton with Captain Roskell, arrived Port Adelaide on 1-09-1851. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Asia.htm


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