Find out how popular the first name Chamberlain has been for the last 34 years (from 1990 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Chamberlain by gender

Based on the last 34 years of data, Chamberlain is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 88% of people named Chamberlain being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Chamberlain.

The history of the first name Chamberlain

The name Chamberlain has its roots in the Old French word "chambrelain," which itself derived from the Late Latin word "camerarius," meaning a chamber attendant or keeper of the sleeping quarters. The name emerged during the Middle Ages in Western Europe, particularly in France and England.

The term "chamberlain" originally referred to a high-ranking official in charge of managing a monarch's or nobleman's household affairs, including overseeing servants and managing finances. As such, the name was closely associated with positions of authority and privilege in royal or aristocratic households.

One of the earliest known references to the name Chamberlain can be found in the 12th century, when a person named William Chamberlain served as the Lord Chamberlain to King Henry II of England. This position held significant importance, as the Lord Chamberlain was responsible for various ceremonial and administrative duties within the royal household.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Chamberlain. In the 14th century, Sir Robert de Chamberlain was a prominent English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was Thomas Chamberlain (c. 1557-1625), an English diplomat who served as ambassador to Spain during the reign of King James I.

In the 19th century, Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914) was a British politician who served as a cabinet minister and played a significant role in the expansion of the British Empire. He was also known for his advocacy of social reforms and his support for the cause of Irish Home Rule.

Another famous bearer of the name was Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940), the British Prime Minister who is remembered for his policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany in the late 1930s. His decision to sign the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler in 1938, which ceded the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Germany, has been a subject of much historical debate and criticism.

Richard Chamberlain (born 1934) is an American actor best known for his roles in television series such as "Dr. Kildare" and "The Thorn Birds," as well as his portrayal of various literary characters in film adaptations.

While the name Chamberlain has its origins in the medieval era and was initially associated with positions of authority and service in royal households, it has since become a more widespread given name, transcending its original occupational meaning.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Chamberlain was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Chamberlain, please contact us.

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