Champer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Champer is derived from the old French word "cha(u)mbre," meaning "chamber," and is thought to have originally been an occupational name for someone who worked in the private living quarters of the aristocracy.

Early Origins of the Champer family

The surname Champer was first found in Denbighshire where they held lands at Llewenne, granted to John de Chambre from the Earl of Lincoln, who was Constable of Chester. John was a "nobelle Normanne who entred Englaunde in ye traine of King Williaume." 1

"We also find Chalmer in Suffolk and Worcester in the 13th century: Roger le Chalmere in the Feet of Fines for Suffolk in 1255; and Ralph le Chalmer in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275." 2

More often than not, the singular form of the name was in use in early days. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Walter de la Chaumbre, Lincolnshire; and Henry de la Chambre, Lincolnshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Robertas del Chaumbire; Johannes del Chaumbir; Alicia Chaumbir, maydyne; and Willelimus del Chaumbir. 3

John A Chamber or Chamberlayne (d. 1489), the English rebel, "a knight of great influence in the north, excited the people to join the rebellion headed by Sir John Egremond in Northumberland and Durham against the heavy subsidy of 1489. Henry, earl of Northumberland, who had orders to enforce the tax, endeavoured to persuade him to cease his agitation. Chamber would not hear him, and on 20 April the earl was slain by the rebels at Cock Lodge, near Thirsk. Then Thomas, earl of Surrey, was sent to put down the insurrection. He took Chamber and utterly routed the rebels. Chamber was executed at York 'in great state,' being hanged on 'a gibbet set on a square pair of gallows 'with his chief accomplices hanging 'upon the lower story round about him.' " 4

Early History of the Champer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Champer research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1219, 1240, 1296, 1351, 1472, 1528, 1546, 1556, 1560, 1569, 1571, 1582, 1583, 1588, 1592, 1593, 1604, 1609, 1624, 1628, 1633, 1658, 1726, 1775, 1796 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Champer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Champer Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Champer include Chambers, Chalmers, Chamer, Chalmairs, Challmers and others.

Early Notables of the Champer family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Chambers (d. 1556), the last abbot and the first Bishop of Peterborough, born at Peterborough. "He became a monk in the great Benedictine abbey of that place, and eventually elected its abbot in 1528. " 4 Robert Chambers (1571-1624?), was a Catholic divine, a native of Yorkshire, and arrived as a boy at the English college at Rheims in December 1582. 4 Sabine Chambers (1560?-1633), was a Jesuit, born in Leicestershire in or about 1560, and entered Broadgates Hall, Oxford, where he took the degrees in arts, that of master being completed in 1583...
Another 144 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Champer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Champer family to Ireland

Some of the Champer family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 318 words (23 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Champer family

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Champers to arrive on North American shores: Patrick Chalmers who settled in Virginia in 1716; Stephen Chalmers, who arrived in New Jersey in 1713; James Chambers, who settled in Virginia in 1620.

Citations +

The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print