Gampple History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change, including many immigrants with new names. Among these were the ancestors of the Gampple family, whose name comes from the given name Gamel, which was common among the Danes and the Normans. The name Gampple 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 Gampple family

The surname Gampple 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 Gampple family

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

Gampple Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Gamble, Gambel, Gambol and others.

Early Notables of the Gampple 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...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gampple Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Gampple family to Ireland

Some of the Gampple 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.

Migration of the Gampple family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Gampple or a variant listed above: Gideon Gamble who settled in Delaware in 1681; Grisel Gamble settled in East New Jersey in 1686; James Gamble settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.