32,125 Global CHAMBERLAIN Family Members

CHAMBERLAIN Family History

This famous and interesting surname is of Old French origin, and is an occupational name for a chamberlain, that is an official in charge of the private chambers of his master; the term was later a title of high rank. The derivation of this name is from the Old French and Anglo-Norman French "c(h)ambrelain, cambrelane, cambrelen(c)", chamberlain. The Italian cognate "camerlengo" was given to a manager of a pontifical court. The surname itself first appears in records in the mid 12th Century (see below), while other early examples include: Geoffrey le Chaumberleng, mentioned in the 1194 Curia Rolls of Wiltshire; Robert Canberlenc, recorded in the Feet of Fines in 1195; Martin le Chamberleyn in the Feet of Fines of Cambridgeshire of 1232; and Thomas le Chaumberlyn, who appears in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire in 1293.