Gimber - Meno

This very interesting name is medieval job descriptive for a form of Smith or metal worker, but one who specialised in manufacturing "Gimmal" i.e. Bits and Bridle pieces for horse harness. The word later developed into the modern word "Gimbal", meaning a series of inter-connecting rings which provide a stable mounting. The name development and recording includes Elizabeth Gimber christened at St. Dunstans Stepney, on May 26th 1667, Edmund Gaymer or Gymer St. Botolphs without Aldgate on 23rd September 1668 and Elizabeth Gimbar St. James Church, Clerkenwell, on April 5th 1691. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Anne Gymber, which was dated 1568, christened at St. Thomas the Apostle, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 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.