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CHAMBERS Family History

INTRODUCTION

This distinguished surname, with over fifteen entries in the "Dictionary of National Biography", and having no less than twenty-five Coats of Arms, is of French origin, and is an occupational name for an officer charged with the management of his lord's private living quarters. The derivation is from the Old French "cha(u)mbre", room, chamber, ultimately from the Latin "camera". In medieval times, servants in royal households were held in high regard, and frequently those who occupied senior positions enjoyed certain privileges, and the post would often become hereditary. The name is synonymous in origin with Chamberlain, which originally denoted an official in charge of the private chambers of his master, and later became a title of high rank...

SURNAME

Chambers (Variants: Chamber)

This surname is derived from a geographical locality 'of the chamber'.

Also, Norman-English locative name from Les Chambres, Manche located in France.

Early bearers of the surname include: Nicholas de Chambres, 1219 in Curia Regis Rolls (Derbys); Stephen de la Chambre, 1240 in Feet of Fines (Essex); William de la Chaumbre, 1329 in Feet of Fines (Lincs); Thomas de Chambr', 1379 in Poll Tax (Skipton, WR Yorks); Johanne othe Chaumbr', 1379 in Poll Tax (Peckleton, Leics); Johanne Chamber, 1379 in Poll Tax (Weston Turville, Bucks); Johannes Chambre, 1381 in Poll Tax (Gosfield, Essex); Margaret Chambers, 1539 in IGI (Saint Peter Westcheap, London).

In 1891, the surname was recorded in England and Wales with 16,562 occurrences and 753 in Scotland.

In 1881, it was widespread across West Yorkshire, Lancashire. Nottinghamshire was also a top county with 993 occurrences.

In 1881, the most common Chambers occupation in the UK was Agricultural Labourer. Agricultural Labourer, Coal Miner and Farmer were the top 3 reported jobs worked by Chambers. A less common occupation was Labourer.

Mrs. Bertha Chambers, (née Griggs), American First Class passenger from New York City, who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic, aged 32, and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 5.

Guy Antony Chambers (b.1963), an English songwriter best known for his collaboration with Robbie Williams. He has also written songs with other artists including Katy B, Mark Ronson, Kylie Minogue, Tina Turner and many others.

Another noted, Emma Gwynedd Mary Chambers (1964-2018), English actress, best known for her role as Alice Tinker in the BBC TV comedy series The Vicar of Dibley and as Honey Thacker in the film Notting Hill (1999).

1881, 1891 Census

1881 Census in Nottinghamshire

Dictionary of American Family Homes, P Hanks OUP 2003

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain, H.B. Guppy, London 1890

The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, P.Hanks, Coats, McClure OUP 2016

1860 Lower, Mark A Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom, London: J.R Smith. Public Domain

1857 Arthur, William An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain

http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html

J.M.P