This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gamel,' a once popular but now forgotten North-English personal name (v. Freeman, Norman Conq. ii. 477). It is compounded with many local names. The modern accepted surname form is Gamble and Gambles, the 6 being intrusive after m, as in Gambling, which see. Cammell is without question the same name.

Walter le Gamel, 6 Henry II: Whitaker's Craven.

Gamel de Sandford, 32 Henry II: Nicolson and Burn, History of Westmorland and Cumberland.

Gamel de Clifton, 1197: The Pipe Rolls, or Sheriff's Annual Accounts of the Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland and Durham during the reigns of Henry II, Richard I and John.

Gamel de Penred, 1190: ibid.

Huttred fil. Gamelli, Northumberland, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Allan fil. Gamel, Salop, ibid.

Gamal Dele, Close Rolls, 3 Edward I.

Adam Gamal, Close Rolls, ibid.

Adam fil. Gamel: West's Ant. of Furness.

Gamele de Pennington: ibid.

Elena Gamyll, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Henricus Gamyll, 1379: ibid.

Johannes Gamyll, 1379: ibid.

Johannes Gamolson, 1379: ibid.

The local Gambswell (i.e. Gatnel's well), in the parish of Ulverston; also Gamblesby in Cumberland may relate to this name.

John Gamble and Anne Beck, 1673: Marriage Alleg. (Canterbury).

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gamel'; v. Gamble.

From ME. Gamel, OWSc. gamall, 'the old one,' a common personal name, Latinized Gamellus. In Scotland it was a not uncommon name in the southern counties, especially in Ayrshire. Gamel or Gamellus, hostiarius, witnessed charters by Richard, bishop of St. Andrews, a. 1173 (RPSA, p. 134—139; Scon, p. 27, etc.), and c. 1189—1198 he witnessed a charter by Roger, bishop elect of St. Andrews relating to the church of Haddington (RPSA., p. 153). Gamnellus, clericus, witnessed Lady Eschina de Lundon's gift of Molle to Kelso c. 1190 (Kelso, 147), and a toft and croft formerly held by Gamellus was granted to the Hospital of Soltre between 1201—33 (Soltre, p. 14). Warin and Gamel, 'norensi servientibus nostris,' were witnesses to a charter by Brice, bishop of Meray of the church of Deveth (Daviot) to Spyny, c. 1202—22 (REM., p. 53). Walter, son of Gamel was one of an assize of marches in Fife in 1230 (RD., 196), William, son of Gamell de Tuinham, gifted the church of Tuenham to the monks of Holyrood about the same time (LSC., 72), and about 1250 there is mention of a croft in Maxtun which belonged to Gamel, son of Walleve (Melros, 303—306). Hugh Gamyl held lands near Langneuton in Roxburghshire c. 1377 (RHM., II, 5), John Gamill was a witness in 1444 (Cambus., 214), Gabriel Gymmill was a cordiner in Edinburgh in 1599 (Edinb. Marr.), William Gemmill was retoured heir of John Gemmill, his brother, in Carrik in the same year (Retours, Ayr, 24), Andrew Gemmello was burgess of Dundee in 1640, and Dynneiss Gemmello was a skipper in Dundee in 1612 (Brechin). John Gemill took the Test in Paisley in 1686 (RPC., 3. ser. XI, p. 496). John Gem-bell in Aberdeen, 1779. See Gemilston. Magister Garnellinus (a diminutive) was cleric of Alexander III, 1254 (RD., p. 49).

Gamel occurs both in Domesday and in the H.R. In the latter ' Fils Gamel' is also found. Anglo-Saxon gamol or gamel, old, aged. It is compounded with some Domesd. names, as Gamel-bar, ' old bear'-Gamel-carle, 'old male,'-both in co. York. Gamblesby in Cumberland, probably derived its name from a Danish proprietor.

Lower says, "Gamel occurs both in Domesday and in the H.R. In the latter ' Fitz Gamell is also found. Anglo-Saxon gamol or gamel, old, aged ... Gamblesby, in Cumberland, probably derived its name from a Danish proprietor." Gamla is the name of a town of Finland. Gamble may however be corrupted from the name Gumboil, which see.

Thomas Gamble was vicar of Wroxham in 1719; and John Gayford was bailiff of Yarmouth in 1689 (Bl.).