This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the lamb'; compare Bull, Bullock, Fox. Affixed to one of a mild, inoffensive character.

William le Lambe, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Richard le Lam, Northamptonshire, ibid.

Ingrida Lomb, Huntingdonshire, ibid.

(a) Bapt. 'the son of Lambert,' from Lamb the nick., whence such diminutives as Lamb-in and Lambkin (which see) were found.

1558. William Justyce and Jane Lambe: Marriage Lic. (London).

1665. Buried — Ann Lam, servant to Mr. Clark: St. Dionis Backchurch.

Lamb is an ON. personal name, ODan. Lam. Adam Lamb of Sympering (Simprim) witnessed a charter of lands in Grayden (Graden), c. 1288 (Edmonstone, p. 76). Adam Lamb, persone of the church of Foulisworthe, Berwickshire, and Lambe fiz Austyn de Nibreim, rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 205,212). Thomas Lambe, tenant in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire, 1376 (RHM., I, p. lvi). Willelmus Lambe was juror at a court held at "Le Ballocis Hill" near Inverness, 1376—7 (Family of Innes, p. 63). John Lambe, esquire of Scotland, received from Richard II of England in 1379 the sum of 20l for killing Oweyn of Wales, the king's enemy in France (Bain, IV, 273). Duncan Lam held a tenement in Edinburgh, 1392 (Egidii, p. 27). Simon Lamb was bailie of Aberdeen, 1391 (RAA., II, 41) and in 1398 was elected common councillor (CRA., p. 374). Wilham Lamb had a charter of two tenements in Brechin, 1420 (REB., II, 273). Richard Lamb was a 'baylye' of Edinburgh, 1423 (LSC., 113). Master Archibald Lame was appointed to teach young monks and novices in the Abbey of Arnbroath, 1486 (RAA., II, p. 245). John Lame was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1487 (NSCM., I, p. 33), and Alexander and David Lam were burgesses of Arnbroath, 1505 (RAA., II, p. 358). John Lam was presbyter in Abernethy, 1547 (Gaw, 9, 22), and Marcus Lamb appears in Petculane, 1550 (Rollok, 69). Marcus Lambe was prebendary of Holy Trinity College, Edinburgh, 1554 (Soltre, p. 200). Lamme 1551; Lame. The descendants of a prominent family of this name connected with Leith from the days of Bruce emigrated to Australia about the beginning of the nineteenth century.

(English and Scandinavian) a nickname and sign-name from the Lamb [Old English and Old Norse lamb] William le Lambe.—Hundred Rolls (Anglo-French-Teut.) a contraction of Lambert, q.v.

(English) Dweller at the sign of the lamb; one with some characteristic of a lamb.

Charles Lamb asks, "Who first imposed thee, gentle name?" and jumps, or rather skips, to the conclusion that his ancestors were shepherds; but there is little doubt that the surname was derived from a common sign of houses. The Second Person in the Trinity, in allusion to the passage of scripture, "Behold the Lamb of God, &c.," is often in medieval art pourtrayed as a lamb bearing a small banner ensigned with a cross. This device usually known as the ' Holy Lamb ' was frequently adopted as a sign, and, although its sacred origin is forgotten, many a country public-house is still known by it. Lamb and Le Lamb. H.R.

The name was probably taken from the sign of a lamb at an inn, the young of the sheep kind; Welsh, Llamer, to skip; Gaelic, Leum. The primitive Celtic or Gaelic Lam signified armor, as a dart, a blade, or sword; hence, to lam signified to disable, injure, maim, from which we have lame and limp.

Lamb. —Pretty well dispersed over England, except in the south coast counties from Devon to Kent, in which it is unrepresented in my list. At present it is most numerous in the north of England, in the counties of Northumberland and Durham.