Comments (Meaning / History Only)
"From the name of the city of Kimberley in South Africa, which was named after Lord KIMBERLEY" Doesn't this mean that it comes from wherever Lord Kimberley's name originated instead of a city named after him?
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Consider the name Kimbry or Kimbree if you are thinking of Kimberly. It's a form that was used in England as a girl's name going back to the early 1700's, according to records available on Ancestry.com. I think it's a unique take on the name, one rooted in history, and less apt to to shortened to Kim if the girl doesn't like that as she grows. Kimbra and Kimbro also have this same history. Going back to Tudor England, the name was Kimbrough, Kinborrow, or Cynber/Kimber.
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Kimberly without the "e" is so popular in the US because historically, we have had many families named Kimberly (without the "e"). There are several towns named Kimberly in the US, and it is part of many family trees. The ancestor of many prominent men with the last name of Kimberly, including Admiral Kimberly and the founders of some towns called Kimberly, came from the Gloucestershire, England in the 18th century. So we have many e-free Kimberlys in the US. In England, Lord Kimberley of Norfolk and the Boer War had more of an influence on the naming of Kimberleys. Lovely name, whatever the heritage.
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What I find it interesting in all of these posts, is that no one has mentioned the true origination of the name “Kimberley”. This was the name given to the house named “Kimberley Hall” (http://www.hha.org.uk/Property/67/Kimberley-Hall) that was built in 1712 for Sir John Wodehouse (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wodehouse, _1st_Earl_of_Kimberley) & his wife Lady Florence Fitzgibbon that overlooks the river Tiffey located in Wymondham (town) Norfolk (county) England. This has been a manorial site & deer park since the middle ages and still stands today with tours to the public.
Kimberley became the surname of Sir John Wodehouse when Queen Victoria conferred an earldom upon him in 1866 for recognition of his services as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. His title became “1st Earl of Kimberley” (1826-1902). In 1870 he became Secretary of State for the Colonies. In South Africa, by proclamation dated July 5, 1873 one of the divisions previously known as ‘New Rush’ & before that known as ‘Transvaal’ was changed to ‘Kimberley’(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley, _Northern_Cape). Kimberley was a mining town that is noted in history for the Second Boer War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_Warr), the Siege of Kimberley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kimberley) & of course it’s diamond mining. The Kimberley Diamond Mine is referred to as ‘the Big Hole’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley, _Northern_Cape#The_Big_Hole_and_other_mines) due to the size, as its surface is 42 acres & it is 1, 519.03ft (463m) in diameter with an excavated depth of 784.40ft (240m). The diamonds found in the Kimberley Diamond Mine were formed in a vertical volcanic pipe.
Only since the 20th century did the name Kimberley come to be used as a given (1st) name.
I chose to provide this information to you (that chose to read my diatribe), because I carry the moniker Kimberley and I was named after the Kimberley Diamond Mine in SA. Scottish mother who was all about a name and what it meant & the history that it held. I grew up learning my namesake, the history behind it, why the differences in spelling – ‘ly’ vs ‘ley’, that the initial spelling was “ey” – male spelling, when it died out and when it came back & lastly what countries used it. I grew up answering to Kimberley, Kimothy, Kimi, & Kim. I’m a professional in my 50s & still prefer to go by Kimberley or Kimothy. Family continue to use the name preferred from childhood. I make it a point when providing my name to people that it’s ‘ey’ – the male spelling. It catches their attention & they take note. People need to realize that it’s important to spell an individuals’ name correctly – it’s a personal thing.
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Kimberley became the surname of Sir John Wodehouse when Queen Victoria conferred an earldom upon him in 1866 for recognition of his services as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. His title became “1st Earl of Kimberley” (1826-1902). In 1870 he became Secretary of State for the Colonies. In South Africa, by proclamation dated July 5, 1873 one of the divisions previously known as ‘New Rush’ & before that known as ‘Transvaal’ was changed to ‘Kimberley’(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley, _Northern_Cape). Kimberley was a mining town that is noted in history for the Second Boer War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Boer_Warr), the Siege of Kimberley (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kimberley) & of course it’s diamond mining. The Kimberley Diamond Mine is referred to as ‘the Big Hole’ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley, _Northern_Cape#The_Big_Hole_and_other_mines) due to the size, as its surface is 42 acres & it is 1, 519.03ft (463m) in diameter with an excavated depth of 784.40ft (240m). The diamonds found in the Kimberley Diamond Mine were formed in a vertical volcanic pipe.
Only since the 20th century did the name Kimberley come to be used as a given (1st) name.
I chose to provide this information to you (that chose to read my diatribe), because I carry the moniker Kimberley and I was named after the Kimberley Diamond Mine in SA. Scottish mother who was all about a name and what it meant & the history that it held. I grew up learning my namesake, the history behind it, why the differences in spelling – ‘ly’ vs ‘ley’, that the initial spelling was “ey” – male spelling, when it died out and when it came back & lastly what countries used it. I grew up answering to Kimberley, Kimothy, Kimi, & Kim. I’m a professional in my 50s & still prefer to go by Kimberley or Kimothy. Family continue to use the name preferred from childhood. I make it a point when providing my name to people that it’s ‘ey’ – the male spelling. It catches their attention & they take note. People need to realize that it’s important to spell an individuals’ name correctly – it’s a personal thing.
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I am interested in knowing if there are other 'Kimberly's who are older than I am.
My mother, who is usually quite conformist, named me Kimberly in 1954. She had never heard of it being used as the first name of a female. (It was the last name of some close family friends.) She believes that she invented the name for female usage.
Growing up, I absolutely hated it. Other than Kim Novak, the only Kim anyone had ever heard of was Rudyard Kipling's Indian boy. (And there were the "Kimberly Diamond Mines" in Africa.) As a 4-year-old, I was asked what my name was. "Kim," I responded. "What's your other name?" the nice lady asked. "Burly," I responded. Everyone thought this was hilarious. But I felt humiliated by having such an unusual name in the midst of a school-ful of girls named Debbie and Cindy and Susie and Jane.
Over time, I finally learned to embrace my once-unusual name. I'm sad that it became so common in the "80's and '90's. I came to love it right about the time it became annoyingly ubiquitous.
A dear friend once told me that Kimberly means "... of the royal fortress meadow." That is of spiritual significance to me.
Anyway, I hope all of you young Kimberlys will recognize what a relatively recent common name you possess, and be proud of it's history.
And I would LOVE to hear from any female Kimberlys born before 1954!
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My mother, who is usually quite conformist, named me Kimberly in 1954. She had never heard of it being used as the first name of a female. (It was the last name of some close family friends.) She believes that she invented the name for female usage.
Growing up, I absolutely hated it. Other than Kim Novak, the only Kim anyone had ever heard of was Rudyard Kipling's Indian boy. (And there were the "Kimberly Diamond Mines" in Africa.) As a 4-year-old, I was asked what my name was. "Kim," I responded. "What's your other name?" the nice lady asked. "Burly," I responded. Everyone thought this was hilarious. But I felt humiliated by having such an unusual name in the midst of a school-ful of girls named Debbie and Cindy and Susie and Jane.
Over time, I finally learned to embrace my once-unusual name. I'm sad that it became so common in the "80's and '90's. I came to love it right about the time it became annoyingly ubiquitous.
A dear friend once told me that Kimberly means "... of the royal fortress meadow." That is of spiritual significance to me.
Anyway, I hope all of you young Kimberlys will recognize what a relatively recent common name you possess, and be proud of it's history.
And I would LOVE to hear from any female Kimberlys born before 1954!
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Kimberly is of a noble descent and can mean "royalty", "noble one", coming from a lineage of Royalty. A name given to Royal Family members.
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Cyneburh/Cyneburga is an Old English name meaning Royal Fortress and that is where the 'Kimber' part of Kimberley comes from. Ley = clearing or field. Kimberley = Cyneburh's Field/Clearing.
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I heard that Kimberley meant "King's Meadow". Because the -ley ending means "meadow" and kimber means "King's".
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The history is correct, but the meaning actually means, from the royal fortress meadow.
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Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy.
Kimberley as a name is derived from the old English cyneburg meaning Royal fortress and lea or leah meaning woodland meadow or clearing and ones put together became cyneburg's lea/h which over the years evolved and changed to become the name we all know of today.