Surname Lambsden - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'L'
Lambsden: What does the surname Lambsden mean?
The last name Lambsden is a locational English surname, derived from an area with a name similar to the animals found there. It is believed to have originated near Leeds, West Yorkshire, in which the name of the area was Lambardesdene or Lamettesden, meaning 'valley of lambs'.
The surname Lambsden may refer to a number of individuals who had a residence, occupation, paid tax or worked in this area. It is thought to have been the habitation of a family or a group of people, by the name of Lambard, who may have been villeins, or nominees of an owner of the area. This name would then have been taken on and used by other families in the area.
The surname Lambsden may also be found in other parts of England, and Scotland, where it has been transported by people. In Britain, the surname is common in Yorkshire, Lancashire, London, Gloucestershire, Cumbria and Durham. It is thought that some people bearing this surname travelled to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the late 17th century, and then on to America and Canada around this time.
Today the surname Lambsden is most common around Yorkshire, but internationally has spread to America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It carries with it a sense of connection to an agrarian past, with a sense of permanence in the attachment to a land.
Order DNA origin analysisLambsden: Where does the name Lambsden come from?
The surname Lambsden is most common today in the United Kingdom. Lambsden is an anglicised version of the Scottish surname Lambden, which is derived from a location in the Borders of Scotland. It is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name Lamba meaning ‘lamb’ and denn meaning ‘valley’ or ‘low-lying land’.
The name is first documented in the 14th century when four individuals of the Lambden family of Scotish Borders are recorded; Robert Lambden of Edingham, Adam Lambden of Hundlawyis, Richard Lambden of Westerdean, and Wiliam Lambden of Hundlawyis.
By the 18th century the family had spread across Scotland with various families existing in the surrounding the border regions including the counties of East Lothian, Roxburghshire, Midlothian, Berwickshire and Peeblesshire.
Today the name is most common in the UK, particularly the North East England. The 1881 UK Census revealed Lambsden to be the 21st most common surname in the country, however population data in more recent centuries has yet to be recorded.
Some Lambsden’s have emigrated to other countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia. It is unlikely however that the surname Lambsden is particularly common in those countries.
Variations of the surname Lambsden
The surname Lambsden originates from England, and there are several associated variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these include Lambden, Lambson, Lambeson, Lambson, Lamsden, Lambsonn, and Lamberson.
The earliest form of the surname, Lambden, likely stemmed from the Old English pre-7th century word “lamb” which meant “sheep”. The suffix “dene” was a nod to the dweller in the valley, and was likely added as a descriptive element at a later date. As such, it is assumed that the surname originates from a place where sheep were raised.
Variations in spelling likely arose due to a lack of standardization of the English language during this period. For example, an early spelling of the surname was Lamsden, a variation likely due to the influence of dialects at the time. This provides evidence of the adaptation of the surname as it travelled north through England and integrated with other dialects.
More distant variations of the same origin surname have also sprung up. For instance, Lambeson was listed in early records. It may be a combination of two separate surnames, such as Lamb and Eson. Likewise, Lambsonn and Lamberson may have been derived from a combination of the surnames Lamb and Eson in an attempt to distinguish one family from another.
Overall, the surname Lambsden stems from England and has several associated variants, spellings and surnames rooted in the same origin. Examples include Lambden, Lambson, Lambeson, Lambson, Lamsden, Lambsonn and Lamberson. All of these surnames are likely variations arising from a combination of dialects and an attempt to distinguish one family from another.
Famous people with the name Lambsden
- Corey Lambsden: an American Christian singer-songwriter, worship leader, and record producer.
- Sandra Lambsden: a former swimmer from Canada, who specialized in sprint freestyle events.
- Thomas Lambsden: the Anglican Bishop of Gloucester from 1792 to 1820.
- Benjamin Lambsden: the founder of a Canadian biscuit-making business which later became part of the trusted national company Christie, Brown, and Co.
- Eliza Lambsden: an English child actress in the late 1880s.
- Gerald Lambsden: a British Army officer who gained fame during World War II.
- Fred Lambsden: an American football coach who served seven teams in a 15-year college football coaching career.
- Freda Lambsden: a British Councillor for the Liberal Democrats, as well as a women’s rights activist.
- Henry Lambsden: an English vicar, amateur artist, and family historian, who served as the Vicar of Upper Stowey from 1860 to 1903.
- Christina Lambsden: an Australian suffragist, who was a key in achieving women’s voting rights in South Australia in 1895.