Sambedge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Sambedge surname lived 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 Sambedge family

The surname Sambedge 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 Sambedge family

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

Sambedge Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Sambedge are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Sambedge include: Sandbach, Sandback, Sandbeck and others.

Early Notables of the Sambedge family

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

Migration of the Sambedge family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Sambedge or a variant listed above: Francis Sandbach arrived in New York in 1820; Walter Sanbecke landed in Pennsylvania in 1727.

Citations +

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.