UK surname
A locational surname deriving from a place name ultimately meaning "crooked bend" or "curved valley".
In the 1881 census there were 143 people recorded with the Camble surname, ranking it #15,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 54, ranked #34,678, down from #15,955 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Exeter City: St Mary Arches and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Camble is 244 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 62.2%.
1881 census count
143
Ranked #15,955
Modern count
54
2016, ranked #34,678
Peak year
1851
244 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Camble surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Camble surname density by area, 1881 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 | 244 | #8,950 |
| 1861 | historical | 238 | #10,321 |
| 1881 | historical | 143 | #15,955 |
| 1891 | historical | 130 | #20,173 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 67 | #26,152 |
| 1997 | modern | 40 | #33,666 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 54 | #32,660 |
| 2000 | modern | 49 | #33,187 |
| 2001 | modern | 44 | #33,490 |
| 2002 | modern | 46 | #33,631 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 36 | #34,894 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 39 | #35,097 |
| 2008 | modern | 42 | #34,994 |
| 2009 | modern | 43 | #35,088 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 39 | #35,444 |
| 2012 | modern | 48 | #34,938 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 49 | #34,946 |
| 2016 | modern | 54 | #34,678 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Exeter City: St Mary Arches, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone and Merthyr Dovan, Highlight. 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 | Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) | Devon |
| 2 | Exeter City: St Mary Arches | Devon |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | St Thomas the Apostle, Whitestone | Devon |
| 5 | Merthyr Dovan, Highlight | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Camble 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 Camble, 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 Camble surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Camble 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, Camble 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 Camble is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Camble, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Camble is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely in the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "camb," meaning "comb" or "ridge," possibly referring to a person who lived near a ridgeline or hilly terrain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Camble can be found in the Hertfordshire County Records from the year 1487, where a John Camble is mentioned as a landowner in the village of Ashwell. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1524, indicating its presence in various regions of England during that time.
In the 16th century, the surname Camble underwent some variations in spelling, with records showing forms such as Cambell, Cambelle, and Cammell. These alternative spellings likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in written records during that era.
Notably, the Camble name is absent from the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting that its origins may lie in a later period or that it evolved from an earlier surname that was not recorded in that comprehensive survey.
One of the earliest known individuals with the Camble surname was William Camble, born in 1578 in Exeter, Devon. He was a prominent merchant and trader who established trade routes between England and the newly discovered Americas.
Another notable figure was Elizabeth Camble (1645-1721), a landowner and philanthropist from Norfolk, who funded the construction of several churches and schools in her local community.
In the 18th century, James Camble (1732-1809) was a renowned botanist and naturalist from Yorkshire, known for his extensive studies of the flora and fauna of the British Isles.
The 19th century saw the rise of John Camble (1815-1887), a prominent industrialist from Manchester, who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the region.
More recently, Sir Robert Camble (1920-2005) was a distinguished diplomat and statesman who served as the British ambassador to several countries, including France and Germany, during the latter half of the 20th century.
While the Camble surname may not be among the most common in England today, its history can be traced back several centuries, with various notable individuals bearing the name across different fields and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Camble 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. Durham leads with 35 Cambles recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 35 | 8.62x |
| Devon | 26 | 9.15x |
| Lanarkshire | 12 | 2.72x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 0.74x |
| Kent | 10 | 2.15x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 2.95x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 1.74x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.30x |
| Cumberland | 3 | 2.55x |
| Angus | 2 | 1.58x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 2.12x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.15x |
| Selkirkshire | 2 | 16.19x |
| Somerset | 2 | 0.91x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 0.98x |
| Banffshire | 1 | 3.53x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.33x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.37x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 2.72x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.36x |
| Isle of Man | 1 | 3.94x |
| Kirkcudbrightshire | 1 | 5.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 0.95x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.85x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.15x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.43x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hedworth Monkton Jarrow in Durham leads with 11 Cambles recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.54x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Camble surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 14 |
| Ann | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Bridget | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Margret | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Agness | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amanda | 1 |
| Ametia | 1 |
| Barbara | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Christine | 1 |
| Clare | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marget | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rebecha | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
| Zilloth | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Camble 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 Camble households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 22 |
| Domestic Servant | 3 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Cotton Rover | 2 |
| Laborer | 2 |
| Labourer (Iron Works) | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Mason | 2 |
| Retired Grocer | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Whitesmith | 2 |
| Assistant Baker | 1 |
| Basin Inspector (F T) | 1 |
| Boot & Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Brick Field Labourer | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Caretaker (Office Kpr) | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Colliery Labourer | 1 |
| Compositor Printer | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Dom (Serv) | 1 |
| Draper (No Occ) | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farmer of 352 Acres Employing 10 Labourers | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer AtIron Wks | 1 |
| Messenger | 1 |
| Monthly Nurse | 1 |
| N K | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Pedler | 1 |
| Private 80 Regiment | 1 |
| Pt Royal Marine | 1 |
| Quarry Man (Stone) | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Ship Smith | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Tin Smith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 143 people were recorded with the Camble surname. That placed it at #15,955 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 54 in 2016. That gives Camble a modern rank of #34,678.
A locational surname deriving from a place name ultimately meaning "crooked bend" or "curved valley".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Camble 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.