Kimbrell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Kimbrell

What does the name Kimbrell mean?

The history of the name Kimbrell begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from Buckinghamshire at either Great Kimble or Little Kimble, parishes in the union of Wycombe, hundred of Aylesbury. "[Great Kimble] according to old records, was anciently called Kunebel, from Cunobelin, or Cymbeline, the British king, whose sons here gallantly opposed the Romans, but were defeated, and one of them slain. There are still the remains of several intrenchments on the supposed field of battle; and on a circular mound in the neighbourhood are vestiges of a fortification termed Belinus' Castle, where it is said Cunobelin dwelt. " 1

Both places are listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 collectively as Chenebelle, and literally meant "royal bell-shaped hill," from the Old English words "cyne" + "bell." 2

Early Origins of the Kimbrell family

The surname Kimbrell was first found in Wiltshire where Turbet filius Chembel was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1130. A few years later, Richard Cembel was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Huntingdonshire, and later Roger Cumbel, Chimbel, Kymbel, Kimbel was found in the Pipe Rolls for Warwickshire, 1191-1193. Over in Suffolk, John Kennebelle was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. 3

Robert Kinebald was found in Somerset 1215-1221; Ralph Kenebold in the 13th century on the Isle of Wight; William Kembald in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1302; William Kenebold and Nicholas Kembol, both in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327. 3

Hugo de Kenebell was found in the Curia Regis Rolls for Berkshire in 1196; Roger de Kinebelle in the Hundredorum Rolls for Berkshire in 1255; and Thomas de Kymble was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Cambridgeshire in 1327. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two entries for the family: Richard de Kinebell Buckinghamshire; and John de Kinebelle, Oxfordshire. 4

In Norfolk, Nicholas Kymbell was listed there 3 Henry IV (during the third year of King Henry IV's reign.) 5

Early History of the Kimbrell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kimbrell research. Another 187 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1599, 1625, 1654, 1657, 1678, 1679, 1680, 1721, 1729, 1736, 1742, 1751, 1752, 1754, 1758, 1802, 1804 and 1822 are included under the topic Early Kimbrell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kimbrell Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Kimbrell has been recorded under many different variations, including Kimball, Kimbell, Kimbel, Kemple, Kemble, Kimble and others.

Early Notables of the Kimbrell family

Notables of the family at this time include Saint John Kemble (1599-1679), an English Roman Catholic martyr, one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. He "appears to have been son of George Kemble of Longford, Herefordshire. He was ordained priest at Douay 23 Feb. 1625, and on 4 June was sent on the mission in Herefordshire. In 1678, at the time of the Popish plot, he was seized at Pembridge Castle, Herefordshire, where he was living as chaplain to the Scudamore family. He was tried at Hereford, convicted as having said mass at Pembridge, and executed at Widemarsh Common...
Another 256 words (18 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Kimbrell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kimbrell Ranking

In the United States, the name Kimbrell is the 4,200^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 6

Kimbrell migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Kimbrell or a variant listed above:

Kimbrell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Charles F. Kimbrell, aged 34, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912
Charles F. Kimbrell, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1912 aboard the ship "Panama" from Cristobal 7
Seth A. Kimbrell, aged 28, who arrived in Cape Haiti, N.Y.C. in 1924 aboard the ship "Martinique" from New York, Antonio 7
Rupert Kimbrell, aged 22, who settled in America, in 1924
Seth A Kimbrell, aged 36, who immigrated to the United States, in 1924
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Kimbrell (post 1700) +

Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell (b. 1976), American major in the United States Air Force, and the first female African-American fighter pilot in the history of that service
James Kimbrell, American poet
Bettye Kimbrell, American master folk artist for quilting
Mark Kimbrell, American guitarist
Marketa Kimbrell (1928-2011), Czechoslovakian-born American actress and professor of acting and film directing
John Kimbrell Mann, American politician, Member of Tennessee State House of Representatives, 1972-74

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result