UK surname
A Dutch surname derived from the Middle Dutch word "lam" meaning lamb, likely referring to a shepherd or someone involved in sheep farming.
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Lambers surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Lambers is 103 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1891
103 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Lambers surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Lambers 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 | 69 | #25,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 6 | #37,704 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 5 | #37,823 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Gateshead, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Lambers 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 Lambers, 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 Lambers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Lambers 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, Lambers 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 Lambers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Lambers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname LAMBERS originated in the Low Countries, specifically in the Netherlands and Belgium, during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old Dutch word "lam," meaning "lamb," combined with the occupational suffix "-er," indicating someone who worked with or tended lambs or sheep.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Gelderse Leenaktenboeken (Gelderland Feudal Records) from the 14th century, where a Henric Lambere is mentioned in 1343. These records were a collection of legal documents related to feudal landholdings and tenures in the region.
The LAMBERS name is also mentioned in the Oorkondenboek van Holland en Zeeland (Charter Book of Holland and Zeeland), a compilation of charters and deeds from the 13th to the 16th centuries. In this book, a certain Wouter Lambersz is recorded in 1367 in the town of Delft.
In the Late Middle Ages, the name LAMBERS began to spread across the Low Countries, with various spelling variations emerging, such as Lambrechts, Lamberts, and Lambertsen. These variations reflected regional dialects and scribal preferences.
One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Jan Lambers (c. 1450-1505), a Dutch painter active in the late 15th century. He was known for his religious paintings and altarpieces, and his work can be found in churches and museums across the Netherlands.
Another prominent figure was Claes Lambertsz (c. 1600-1670), a Dutch Golden Age painter from Leiden. He was known for his genre scenes depicting everyday life, as well as his portraits and still lifes.
In the 17th century, the LAMBERS surname gained recognition through the work of Jacobus Lambertus (1620-1692), a Dutch jurist and legal scholar. He wrote extensively on Roman law and contributed significantly to the development of Dutch jurisprudence.
The name LAMBERS also appeared in the historical records of the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia). In the 18th century, Reinier Lambertus (1715-1783) served as the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies from 1761 to 1768, overseeing the colonial administration during a period of expansion and consolidation.
Another notable figure was Adriaan Lambertus (1760-1825), a Dutch military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He participated in the Batavian Revolution and later served as a general in the Dutch army during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
Over time, the LAMBERS surname spread beyond the Low Countries, carried by migrants and settlers to various parts of the world, including North America, South Africa, and Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Lambers 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. Bedfordshire leads with 1 Lambers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 100.00x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 34.84x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eaton Socon in Bedfordshire leads with 1 Lambers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Eaton Socon | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Wylam | 1 | 10000.00x |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Lambers surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Lambers a modern rank of #38,110.
A Dutch surname derived from the Middle Dutch word "lam" meaning lamb, likely referring to a shepherd or someone involved in sheep farming.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Lambers 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.