UK surname
A surname possibly describing someone who lived on a camber or hill.
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Camber surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 94, ranked #31,871, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newington, London parishes and Horley, Leigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Camber is 197 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.8%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
94
2016, ranked #31,871
Peak year
1861
197 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Camber surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Camber surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 83 | #19,181 |
| 1861 | historical | 197 | #12,166 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 55 | #28,064 |
| 1911 | historical | 86 | #24,243 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 86 | #29,343 |
| 1999 | modern | 95 | #28,465 |
| 2000 | modern | 93 | #28,701 |
| 2001 | modern | 93 | #28,382 |
| 2002 | modern | 98 | #28,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 79 | #30,799 |
| 2005 | modern | 88 | #29,831 |
| 2006 | modern | 86 | #30,425 |
| 2007 | modern | 80 | #31,527 |
| 2008 | modern | 77 | #32,181 |
| 2009 | modern | 85 | #31,717 |
| 2010 | modern | 87 | #31,990 |
| 2011 | modern | 92 | #31,301 |
| 2012 | modern | 93 | #31,409 |
| 2013 | modern | 94 | #31,656 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 91 | #32,153 |
| 2016 | modern | 94 | #31,871 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newington, London parishes, Horley, Leigh, Portland and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newington | Kent |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Horley, Leigh | Surrey |
| 4 | Portland | Dorset |
| 5 | Maidstone, Linton, Loddington | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Camber surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Camber, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Camber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Camber household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Camber is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Camber is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Camber, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Camber is believed to have originated in England, with records of its use dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "camb," meaning "ridge" or "crest," which likely referred to a geographical feature or location where the name's earliest bearers resided or came from.
One of the earliest known references to the name Camber can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record compiled during the reign of King Edward I. This document mentions a person named Richard Camber, suggesting the surname's existence at that time.
During the Middle Ages, the name Camber appeared in various forms, including Cambre, Caumbre, and Caumbre, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era. It is also possible that the name was originally derived from a place name, as many surnames evolved from the names of towns, villages, or locations where families originated.
In the 14th century, the surname Camber was recorded in the Register of the Freemen of York, a document listing individuals who had obtained the legal status of freemen within the city. This record mentions a certain John Camber, indicating the name's presence in Yorkshire during that time period.
One notable individual with the surname Camber was Thomas Camber, a merchant and burgess of Coventry, who lived in the late 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical records related to the city's trade and governance.
Another individual of note was Sir William Camber, a knight and landowner who lived in the 16th century. Records show that he held estates in Wiltshire and was involved in local affairs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, the surname Camber appears in parish records from various counties in England, including Essex, Lincolnshire, and Worcestershire, suggesting its widespread distribution across the country.
One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Camber, a merchant and alderman of the City of London, who lived from 1634 to 1689. He was involved in the city's governance and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1673.
The surname Camber has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Camber Castle in East Sussex and Camber Sands, a stretch of beach along the same county's coastline. These locations may have influenced the development and distribution of the surname, as people often derived their surnames from the places where they lived or worked.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Camber surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 21 Cambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 21 | 12.14x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.17x |
| Surrey | 8 | 3.24x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 0.83x |
| Bedfordshire | 2 | 7.62x |
| Essex | 2 | 2.00x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.66x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.96x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bexley in Kent leads with 9 Cambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 588.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bexley | 9 | 588.24x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 24.62x |
| Limpsfield | 7 | 2916.67x |
| Rainham | 7 | 1458.33x |
| West Derby | 4 | 22.71x |
| Boughton Monchelsea | 3 | 1578.95x |
| Cople | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Islington London | 2 | 4.07x |
| Childer Thornton | 1 | 909.09x |
| Colchester St Giles | 1 | 101.01x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 36.63x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 10.83x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.36x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 35.46x |
| Shadwell London | 1 | 70.42x |
| Southwark St Olave | 1 | 256.41x |
| Stockton On Tees | 1 | 13.76x |
| Ulverston | 1 | 57.14x |
| West Ham | 1 | 4.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Camber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Camber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Camber households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Farm Labourer | 3 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| A B Seaman | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Busguard | 1 |
| Carpet Salesman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Horsekeeper | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Platelayers Wife | 1 |
| Postman | 1 |
| Serv Housemaid | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| T Labourer | 1 |
| Yeast... (Brewer) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Camber surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016. That gives Camber a modern rank of #31,871.
A surname possibly describing someone who lived on a camber or hill.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Camber bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.