Sambach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Sambach

What does the name Sambach mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Sambach comes from when the family resided in the market-town of Sandbach which was found in the county of Cheshire. Cheshire lies on the border between England and Wales; it is the northernmost county on the border. Devastated in the 11th century by border wars between William the Conqueror and the Welsh, Cheshire's border with Wales fluctuated over the next several centuries. Today, the western portion of the Domesday era county is in Wales. 1

The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was known as "Sanbec." 2 Literally it means "sandy valley-stream," from the Old English "sand" + baece." 3

Early Origins of the Sambach family

The surname Sambach was first found in Cheshire at Sandbach. While this is where the family hails, we must look to Staffordshire to find the first records of the family. For it is there that Richard de Sandebech and Roger de Sandbach were listed in the Feet of Fines 1227 and 1254. 4 "The township of Sandbach gave its name to an ancient Cheshire family which flourished up to the 13th century." 5

Early History of the Sambach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sambach research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1578, 1624, 1636, 1749, 1772 and 1838 are included under the topic Early Sambach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sambach Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Sambach include Sandbach, Sandback, Sandbeck and others.

Early Notables of the Sambach family

More information is included under the topic Early Sambach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sambach family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Francis Sandbach arrived in New York in 1820; Walter Sanbecke landed in Pennsylvania in 1727.

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.