Kimberley_(surname)
Kimberley (surname)
Surname list
Kimberley is a surname in the English language. A variant form of the surname is Kimberly.[1]
Kimberley is derived from any of several places in England named Kimberley.[1] However, several such places have differing etymologies. For example, the Kimberly in Norfolk is derived from two Old English elements: the first is the feminine personal name Cyneburg; the second element is lēah, meaning "wood" or "clearing".[2] The Kimberly in Nottinghamshire is similarly derived, although the personal name is Cynemær. Likewise the Kimberly in Warwickshire is derived from the personal name Cynebold.[3]
An early record of the surname is de Chineburlai, in 1161; and de Kynmerley, in 1300.[4]
The Earls of Kimberley derived their title from the place name in Norfolk. Their name gave rise to the like-named place Kimberley, in Northern Cape, South Africa. From this South African place name comes the modern given names Kimberley and Kimberly.[5]
Notable people with the surname include:
- Anna Kimberley (born 1995), English female professional squash player
- Barry Kimberley (born 1957), Australian rules footballer
- Edward Kimberley (1762-1829), convict on the First Fleet to Botany Bay
- Eleazer Kimberly (1639–1709), the sixth Secretary of the State of Connecticut
- John A. Kimberly (1838–1928), American manufacturing executive, a founder of Kimberly-Clark Corporation
- Jonathan Kimberley DD (1651–1720), Dean of Lichfield from 1713 until his death
- Lawrence Kimberley (born 1962), Dean of Christchurch since 2015
- Lewis Kimberly (1830–1902), United States Naval officer during the American Civil War
- Maria Kimberly (born 1943 or 1944), former American top model and actress
- Oliver Kimberley, Anglican priest in the first half of the Twentieth century
- Patrícia Kimberly, born Gisele Barbosa (born 1984), Brazilian prostitute, stripper, pornographic actress
- Percy Kimberley (1878–1949), Australian rules footballer
- Ron Kimberley (1914–1981), Australian rules footballer
- Talis Kimberley, British folk singer/songwriter, activist, and political figure
- Walter Kimberley (1884–1917), English footballer