UK surname
A locational surname derived from the German place name Gambel or Gambach.
In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Gambel surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #28,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Horton, London parishes and Layer-de-la-Hay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gambel is 103 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.8%.
1881 census count
33
Ranked #28,965
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1891
103 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gambel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gambel 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 | 21 | #29,550 |
| 1861 | historical | 46 | #28,170 |
| 1881 | historical | 33 | #28,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Horton, London parishes, Layer-de-la-Hay, Nottingham St Mary and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. 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 | Horton | Northumberland |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Layer-de-la-Hay | Essex |
| 4 | Nottingham St Mary | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gambel 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 Gambel, 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 Gambel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gambel 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, Gambel 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 Gambel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gambel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Gambel is believed to have originated in Germany during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old German word "gambal," which means "leg" or "gambol." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a distinctive gait or a skilled dancer.
One of the earliest documented references to the Gambel surname can be found in the records of the village of Gambach, located in the region of Bavaria, dating back to the 13th century. It is likely that the name evolved from the place name Gambach, which itself is derived from the Old German words "gamba" (leg) and "bach" (stream).
In the 14th century, a nobleman named Johann Gambel was recorded as owning a substantial estate in the town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in the region of Franconia. This suggests that the Gambel family had already established a certain level of prominence and influence in the area by that time.
During the 16th century, the Gambel surname began to spread across various regions of Germany, as well as neighboring countries such as Switzerland and Austria. One notable figure from this period was Peter Gambel (1527-1589), a Lutheran theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation.
In the 18th century, a branch of the Gambel family immigrated to the United States, where they settled in Pennsylvania. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname in America was Johann Gambel (1725-1798), a farmer and landowner in Berks County.
Another prominent individual with the Gambel surname was William Gambel (1823-1849), an American naturalist and explorer. He was best known for his explorations of the American Southwest and his contributions to the study of the region's flora and fauna. Several species, including the Gambel's quail and the Gambel's oak, were named in his honor.
Throughout history, the Gambel surname has been associated with various occupations and fields, including agriculture, theology, academia, and exploration. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Germany, the name has spread across different parts of the world, carrying with it a rich heritage and diverse cultural influences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gambel 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Gambels recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 3.42x |
| Essex | 7 | 11.03x |
| Aberdeenshire | 5 | 16.78x |
| Surrey | 4 | 2.55x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.63x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 14.06x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.59x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.94x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End New Town London in Middlesex leads with 11 Gambels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1718.75x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End New Town London | 11 | 1718.75x |
| Layer De La Hay | 7 | 8750.00x |
| Birse | 5 | 4166.67x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 10.70x |
| Sheffield | 2 | 19.70x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 47.62x |
| Bulkington | 1 | 555.56x |
| Croydon | 1 | 11.49x |
| Dumfries | 1 | 142.86x |
| Whaplode Drove | 1 | 1111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gambel 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 Gambel 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 Gambel households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agriculel Labo | 1 |
| Bedstead Maker | 1 |
| Box Maker (W B) | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| General Goods Dealer | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Japanner | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Tailor (Journeyman) | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Wife Of Ag Lab | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Gambel surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Gambel a modern rank of #37,829.
A locational surname derived from the German place name Gambel or Gambach.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gambel 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.