Kimberley

This interesting name of English origin is locational from any of the various places so called, from different Olde English pre 7th Century personal names, plus "leah", a wood or clearing. In Warwickshire, it is first recorded in 1311 as "Kynebaldeleye", wood or "Cynebald", which is composed of the elements "Cyne", Royal and "beald", brave. The place in Nottinghamshire is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Chinemarelie", wood or "Cynemoer", with the elements "Cyne", royal and "Moer", Fame. Lastly Kimberley in Norfolk is recorded as "Chineburlai" in the Domesday Book, the name "Cyneburh" meaning royal fortress. Two early recordings of namebearers in Warwickshire are of one Edwarde Kimberley christened at Lea Marston on March 6th 1607, and the marriage of Elizabeth Kimberley to William Compton on October 16th 1569 at Harborough Magna. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William de Chineburlai, which was dated 1161, in the "Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.