Cambden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cambden

What does the name Cambden mean?

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Cambden is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in Gloucestershire, where they held a family seat at Chipping Campden. The name is derived from the Old English "camp," meaning "a battle or war." 1

"This place, which is of very great antiquity, is supposed to have derived its name from an encampment formed prior to a battle between the Mercians and the West Saxons. In 689, a congress of the Saxon chiefs, confederated for the conquest of Britain, was held here." 2

Alternatively the name could have originated in Camden-Town, a chapelry, in the parish of St. Pancras, Holborn division of the hundred of Ossulstone, county of Middlesex. "This place takes its name from the Marquess Camden, lessee of the prebendal manor of Cantelows, in which it is situated." 2

Early Origins of the Cambden family

The surname Cambden was first found in Gloucestershire at Chipping Campden. 3 Here the first record of the family was found in 1273. At that time, the Hundredorum, Rolls listed Hugh de Campeden as holding lands there at that time. The same rolls also listed John de Campeden in Northamptonshire. 4

While there is no doubt that this is the home to the family, earlier records show Ebrard de Campeden recordced in the Pipe Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1190 and John de Campeden in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1260. 3

Early History of the Cambden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cambden research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1551 and 1623 are included under the topic Early Cambden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cambden Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Cambden has been spelled many different ways, including Camden, Campden and others.

Early Notables of the Cambden family

William Camden (1551-1623), English antiquarian, historian, topographer, and herald, best known as author of Britannia, the first chorographical survey of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Annales, the first detailed historical account of the reign of Elizabeth I of England. Born in the Old Bailey, London, his father Sampson Camden, a native of Lichfleld, who in early life...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cambden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cambden migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Cambdens to arrive in North America:

Cambden Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Cambden, who arrived in Maryland in 1669 5

Sources +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)