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.

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