Lamb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


The name Lamb comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a gentle-hearted person. The surname Lamb 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 Lamb family

The surname Lamb 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 Lamb family

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

Lamb Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Lamb has undergone many spelling variations, including Lamb, Lambe, Lam and others.

Early Notables of the Lamb family

Distinguished members of the family include

Lamb World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lamb is the 477th most popular surname with an estimated 59,688 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Lamb is ranked the 818th most popular surname with an estimated 6,548 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Lamb is the 448th popular surname with an estimated 8,388 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Lamb as 322nd with 1,916 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Lamb as 299th with 20,155 people. 9

Migration of the Lamb family to Ireland

Some of the Lamb 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.


Lamb migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Lamb were among those contributors:

Lamb Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Lamb Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Lamb Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Lamb Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Lamb migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lamb Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Lamb Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Lamb Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Lamb migration to Australia +

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

Lamb Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Lamb 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:

Lamb Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Lamb (post 1700) +


The Lamb 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.


Suggested Readings for the name Lamb +
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