Surname Lambden - Meaning and Origin
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Lambden: What does the surname Lambden mean?
The last name Lambden likely originates from either the Old English words "lam" meaning "lamb", and "denu/denn" meaning "valley". This combination of words could create a name meaning "valley of the lamb". In many areas of northern England and Scotland, the Lambden surname can be found with a variety of spellings, such as Lambden, Lamden, Lambeden, Lamberdain, Lemberdan and Lumbden. It is believed that these variations come from a long period of gradual changes in spelling due to the many dialects of English spoken in the different parts of the United Kingdom.
The Lambden name may have developed quite early in relation to other names in the British Isles and could have evolved as early as the Early Middle Ages. During this time, the land was largely populated by tenant farmers who did not own the land but had the right to farm it. In some areas, this right was passed down from father to son and could take the form of a "Lambden", or a valley that the family had the right to cultivate. In other areas, a similar right, known as "Lamberdain", could have been granted to one family member, and upon his death, the right to the relevant valley could then pass down to another family member.
Overall, the surname Lambden is thought to be derived from the early Medieval era and likely had its origin in the right to cultivate a specific valley. It is a common surname throughout the United Kingdom and has a variety of spellings.
Order DNA origin analysisLambden: Where does the name Lambden come from?
The last name Lambden is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It is also prevalent in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. According to records, it has been present in Britain since at least the 17th century.
In England, the Lambden surname is linked to West Sussex and Devon. As of 2020, West Sussex is home to the most Lambden families in the UK with the city of Chichester having the highest concentration.
In the United States, two separate records of the Lambden name appear in the early 18th century in colonial Virginia and Massachusetts. From there, the family spread to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio, as well as California.
In Australia, the name arrives in the late 19th century. By the end of the 20th century, the largest concentration of Lambdens was in the state of New South Wales. Canada also has several families with the surname, primarily concentrated in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
South Africans with the last name Lambden trace their roots back to the early 20th century. In 2019, the highest number of Lambdens were living in the city of Cape Town.
Today, the Lambden surname is found throughout the English-speaking world with people from different backgrounds. Many of them are descendants of those who left England for a new life in other parts of the world, although some may have adopted the Lambden name after immigration.
Variations of the surname Lambden
The surname Lambden originates mainly from the English language, although some sources assign to it an Anglo-Norman origin. Spelling variants of the surname Lambden can include Lamden, Lambeden, Lameden, Lambdin, Lambeydon, Lambdane, Lambdenn, Lambedan, Lambiedan, Lamboden as well as Lambeaten.
The spelling of the surname Lambden has evolved over the centuries, particularly in America. Variations in spelling might also depend on the dialect far downstream of the language at the time of emigration, of which there are many. It is quite possible that spelling variants would have had increased due to the fact that many Clerks and Church officials, who had responsibility for recording family names, were illiterate, and wrote down whatever they thought they heard.
Surnames of the same origin as Lambden can include Lambe, Lambeck, Lambin, Lambeth, Lambert, Lambertson, Lamberson, Lamburn, Lambson, Lambkins, Lamberty, Lambsdale, Lambrecht, and Lambrose.
The variations in spelling found for the surname Lambden can be due to a number of reasons; some spellings are due to the ancestry of the bearers, some can be attributed to illiteracy, or the absence of a set spelling for the surname and, in some instances, it can be intentional, to change the name for personal reasons.
Famous people with the name Lambden
- David Lambden: British film producer, producer of 'Phoenix Nights'.
- Tim Lambden: former British soccer player and academic.
- Gary Lambden: former Australian test cricketer.
- Jim Lambden: English football coach and former Leicester City player.
- John Lambden: English architect and educator.
- Richard Lambden: British footballer and manager.
- Robert Lambden: British-American historian and author.
- Susanna Lambden: Scottish writer and librarian.
- Tom Lambden: British actor and author.
- William Lambden: English surgeon and doctor of medicine.