The chronicles of England show the early records of the name Chamberlain to be derived from the Norman race. The name appears in England from about 1066 A.D., and its history is interwoven within the majestic tapestry which contains the history of Britain.
Professional researchers used such ancient manuscripts as the Doomsday Book (compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls, the Wace Poem, the Honour Roll of Battle Abbey, the Curia Regis, Pipe rolls, the Falais Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, and local parish and church records to establish that the first record of the name Chamberlain was found in Dorset where that had been seated from early times, after the Norman conquest.
The Chamberlain name occurred in many references but, from time to time, it was spelled other ways. Click here to see other spellings. Scribes often spelled the name the way it sounded so, a person could be born under one spelling, married under another and have a headstone on their grave with yet another spelling. The Normans were commonly believed to be of French origin but, more accurately, they were of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkney Islands and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D. under their King, Stigut. Later, under their Jarl, Thorfinn Rollo, they invaded France about 940 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, eventually conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Duke William who invaded and defeated England in 1066 was descended from the first Duke Rollo of Normandy.
The surname Chamberlain emerged as a notable family name in the county of Dorset. It is believed that the very first Chamberlain (we are using this spelling for convenience only) was Ailfus Camerarius who settled in Dorset after the Norman Conquest. In essence, he was descended from the Tancarvilles, who were the hereditary Chamberlains of all of France, and more specifically Ailfus, was directly descended from John, Count of Tancarville. The Chamberlains of Dorset (Maugersbury) were also hereditary Chamberlains for the first Kings of England: Henry, Stephen, and Henry all. From the Chamberlains also descend the name of Clinton, Houghton, Manuit, and, as already stated, Tancarville.
After the Norman Conquest the Chamberlains were granted many lands and estates in several counties in England but the main holdings were in Dorset. At the end of the reign of Henry all of England, the Chamberlains fell into disfavour with the royal court and the branch in the county of Suffolk arose to ascendency. This branch was represented by the Chamberlains of Alderton Hall, and Hinton Hall. However, the Maugersbury and Oddington (Gloucestershire) branches were still active, as were the branches in Oxfordshire, Warwick, Leicestershire and Lancashire. During the middle and early ages the family flourished and were a powerful influence on society. Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Chamberlain of Dorset.
The surname Chamberlain contributed much to local politics and in the affairs of England or Scotland. During the 12th century many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland. Later, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries England was ravaged by religious and political conflict. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. The unrest caused many to think of distant lands.
In Ireland, settlers became known as the "Adventurers for land in Ireland". They "undertook" to keep the Protestant faith, occupying the lands of the Irish. In Ireland they settled in Chamberlaynstown and Athboy in County Meath and here they emphasized their original relationship with the Tancarvilles by frequently calling the first born by the Christian name of Tancarville.
The democratic way of life of the New World beckoned many. They sailed aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the "White Sails".
In North America, migrants which could be considered a kinsman of the family name Chamberlain, or variable spellings of that same family name included Edward Chamberlain who settled in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1655; Henry Chamberlain settled who in Hingham in 1638; John Chamberlain who settled in Charlestown during 1653; Richard Chamberlain of Braintree; and, Richard Chamberlain of Portsmouth. From the port of arrival, settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became part of the United Empire Loyalists.
Meanwhile, the family name was highly regarded in the social stream. There were many notables of this name Chamberlain: Elsie Chamberlain, Congregationalist; George Chamberlain, Chief Secretary; Air Marshall George Chamberlain; Sir Henry Chamberlain; Professor Owen Chamberlain, Physics; Sir Reginald Chamberlain, Supreme Court Judge, Australia; Richard Chamberlain, Master of the Supreme Court; Right Honourable Arthur Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of England, 1937 - 1940.
The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was:
The Crest was:
The ancient family Motto for this distinguished name was:
