Bamber

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from Bamber Bridge. The placename is recorded as "Bymbrig" in the Victoria History of the Counties of England (no date given), and derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Bimme", and "brycg", bridge; hence, "Bimme's bridge". The personal name is recorded as "Bimme" in the 1246 Assize Rolls of Lancashire, and is of uncertain origin. During the Middle Ages, when migration for the purpose of job-seeking was becoming more common, people often took their former village name as a means of identification, thus resulting in a wide dispersal of the name. In the modern idiom the surname can be found as Bambor, Bambar, Bambro and Bamber. Recordings of the surname from Lancashire Church Registers include: the marriage of Richard Bamber and Annes Hull on January 28th 1564, at Kirkham; the marriage of Annes Bamber and Roger Wraton, on April 20th 1570, at Kirkham; and the christening of Robert, son of Thomas and Isabel Bamber, at Standish, on January 19th 1578. A Coat of Arms granted to the family depicts two red chevrons between four black fleurs-de-lis on a silver shield, the Crest being a red bulls head erased, attired gold. The Motto, "Fortis et egregius", translates as, "Bold and excellent". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Bamber, which was dated November 28th 1564, marriage to Joan Dobson, at Kirkham, Lancashire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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.