This most interesting surname may derive from two possible sources. Firstly, it may be of
Anglo-Saxon origin, and a
locational name from Great and Little Limber, in Lincolnshire, which was recorded as "Lindbeorhge", circa 1067 in the Anglo-Saxon Wills and "Linberge" in the
Domesday Book of 1086. The placename is composed of the
Olde English and Old
Scandinavian "lind", lime-tree and the Olde English, Old Scandinavian element "beorg", hill, mountain. Alternatively, it may be a
topographical name for "a dweller by a pool", from the Olde English "lum(m)", pool, plus the
suffix "
-er", which usually means "dweller by" when attached to some topographical term. Locational names were originally given to the
Lord of the Manor or as a means of identification to those who left their place of birth to seek work, while topographical surnames were among the earliest created since both natural and man-made features provided easily recognisable distinguishing names in the
Middle Ages. Houward Lomb was recorded in the
Feet of Fines of Norfolk in 1198. Avis, daughter of Henry Lumber, was
christened in 1611 at St. Margaret's, Westminster, and Margaret Lumbers was christened on April 4th 1698 at St. Ann and St. Agnes, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Lvmbar, which was dated November 20th 1598, a christening
witness at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "
Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as
Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing
variants of the original spelling.