Show ContentsBamberey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Bamberey is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from a family once having lived in Banbury, a town in the county of Oxfordshire.

Early Origins of the Bamberey family

The surname Bamberey was first found in Oxfordshire, at Banbury, a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell, now in the Cherwell District. The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was first listed as Banesberie 1 but a Saxon chieftain is said to have built a stockade there as early as the 6th century. Literally, the place name means "stronghold of a man called Ban(n)a," from the Old English personal name + "burh." 2 Banbury Castle was built in 1135 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln, in a motte and bailey design. King Stephen claimed the castle in 1139 but later that year he returned it to the bishop. Archeological digs in the 1970s confirmed that it was rebuilt between 1225 and 1250. In 1648, it was demolished and stones from the castle were later used to build houses in the town.

Early History of the Bamberey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bamberey research. Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bamberey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bamberey Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Bamberey has been recorded under many different variations, including Banbury, Bandbury, Bandebury, Bandury, Bambury, Bamberry and many more.

Early Notables of the Bamberey family

More information is included under the topic Early Bamberey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Bamberey family to Ireland

Some of the Bamberey family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bamberey family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Bamberey or a variant listed above: Ann Banbury who settled in Baltimore in 1790; Jane Banbury settled in Pennsylvania in 1685; William BamBerry who settled in Philadelphia in 1836. In Newfoundland, one of the family was a Captain in the seal fishery in 1833.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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