Show ContentsGamble History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Gamble is a name of ancient Norman origin. It arrived in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. Gamble is a name that comes from the given name Gamel, which was common among the Danes and the Normans. The name Gamble 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 Gamble family

The surname Gamble 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 Gamble family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gamble 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 Gamble History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gamble Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Gamble, Gambel, Gambol and others.

Early Notables of the Gamble 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 England...

Gamble World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gamble is the 799th most popular surname with an estimated 37,305 people with that name. [5] However, in New Zealand, the name Gamble is ranked the 942nd most popular surname with an estimated 792 people with that name. [6] And in the United Kingdom, the name Gamble is the 917th popular surname with an estimated 7,525 people with that name. [7]

Ireland Migration of the Gamble family to Ireland

Some of the Gamble 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.


United States Gamble migration to the United States +

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Gamble name or one of its variants:

Gamble Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Gideon Gamble who settled in Delaware in 1681
  • Gideon Gamble, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1681 [8]
  • Grisel Gamble, who arrived in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1685 [8]
  • Grist Gamble, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 [8]
  • Grizel Gamble, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gamble Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Archibald Gamble, who landed in New England in 1740 [8]
  • James Gamble, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767
Gamble Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Gamble, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 [8]
  • Edward Gamble, who landed in America in 1805 [8]
  • James Gamble, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1807 [8]
  • Joseph Gamble, who landed in New Jersey in 1811 [8]
  • Samuel Gamble, who arrived in New York, NY in 1811 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Gamble migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gamble Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Gamble MD, U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 [9]
Gamble Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Catherine Gamble, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1825
  • John Gamble, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1833
  • Alexander Gamble, aged 38, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Jane Gamble, aged 35, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Sarah Gamble, aged 10, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Gamble migration to Australia +

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

Gamble Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Gamble, British Convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [10]
  • Mr. John Gamble, English convict who was convicted in Durham, County Durham, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • Mr. Samuel Gamble, English convict who was convicted in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
  • Mr. William Gamble, British Convict who was convicted in Leicester, England for 15 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 25th April 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [13]
  • Mr. James Gamble, English convict who was convicted in Newington, London, England for 7 years transported aboard the "Forfarshire" on 24th June 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Gamble migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gamble Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Gamble, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
  • William Gamble, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
  • Mr. Thomas Gamble, (b. 1801), aged 46, Irish settler born in County Kildare arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 [15]
  • Mrs. Susan McDowell Gamble Née Fogerty, (b. 1811), aged 36, Irish settler born in County Limerick travelling aboard the ship "Sir Robert Sale" from Gravesend via Cork arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th October 1847 [15]
  • C. Gamble, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ambrosine" in 1858 [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gamble (post 1700) +

  • James Gamble (1803-1891), Irish-born, American soapmaker and industrialist, co-founder and co-eponym of Procter & Gamble Company (1837)
  • John Robert Gamble (1948-2022), American Major League Baseball shortstop from Reno, Nevada who played in 13 games in two seasons for the Detroit Tigers (1972-1973)
  • Oscar Charles Gamble (1949-2018), American Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter who played from 1969 to 1985
  • Mason Wilson Gamble (1986-1993), American actor, known for his portrayal of Dennis Mitchell in the 1993 film Dennis the Menace
  • Clarence Oliver Gamble (1881-1952), American bronze medalist tennis player at the 1904 Summer Olympics
  • Lieutenant Colonel John Marshall Gamble (1791-1836), American officer in the United States Marine Corps, only US marine to command a US Navy ship, eponym of the USS Gamble (DD–123/DM-15)
  • Robert Jackson Gamble (1851-1924), American politician, US Representative and Senator from South Dakota
  • Hamilton Rowan Gamble (1798-1864), American judge, chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court
  • David Gamble, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1856 [17]
  • Claude Gamble, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Mexico, 1952 [17]
  • ... (Another 52 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Frank Harold Gamble (1909-1941), Australian Petty Officer Telegraphist from Balnarring, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [18]
  • Mr. Ronald Frederick Gamble (1917-1941), Australian Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist from McMahon's Point, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [18]


Suggested Readings for the name Gamble +

  • The Descendants of Bradley Gambill by Louise G. Brown.
  • Early Families of Blount County, Alabama: Gamble, Sapp, Williams by Carolina Nigg.

  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. 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)
  9. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1840
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/forfarshire
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  18. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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