150 Years in Australia
The Name Rumbelow

The name Rumbelow has an Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the name Rumbald, an Old German personal name.

The name came to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest in 1066, as King William encouraged the immigration of skilled tradesmen and artisans from continental Europe; many of these immigrants coming from Germany.

From time to time the surname Rumbelow appears in records from this period as Rumbold, Rumbald, Rumble, Rumball, and Rumbow. These variations occur commonly between father and son, and even in references to the same person, as at that time spelling rules did not truly exist.

During their early development, the Rumbelow family was found in Hampshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated as Lords of the manor of Rumbold and estates in that shire.

Stephen Rumbold held the manors in the year 1207 as shown by the Rotunda Oblitus et Finibus. By the 13th century they had branched to Ferrand in Yorkshire. Sir Thomas Rumbold was Governor of Madras, his daughter married Frances married into the Hales of Hertfordshire.

Sir William Rumbold married Henrietta Goddard of Berwick Bassett of Wiltshire. They intermarried with many distinguished families of the south of England. Distinguished members of the family include Sir William Rumbold.

Migrants bearing the name Rumbelow, or a variant spelling of this name, include John Rumball who settled in Virginia in 1652, Thomas Rumball who settled in Boston Massachusets in 1635; Edward Rumbow who settled in New England in 1748 and James Rumbelow who settled in Philadephia in 1880.

Contemporary notables of the surname Rumbelow include distinguished contributors such as Air Marshall Sir Aubrey Rumball; Sir Algernon Rumbold and Sir Anthony Rumbold.

• Paraphrased information received from Swyrich Corporation.

Rumbelows Around the World

During the research undertaken for this book, many contacts have been made and received from Rumbelows (and their descendants) both from across Australia and around the world.

Donald Rumbelow, London England. Retired Policeman and respected author of many crime novels, most notably The Complete Jack the Ripper. conducts weekly “Ripper” walks in the East End of London

Helen Rumbelow, London England is a Political Correspondent - The Times UK.

Dr Robert W Rumbelow, Georgia USA is an accomplished Conductor of Opera in the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.

Steven Rumbelow, London England is a director, actor, writer has won more than 100 awards for his work.

Bruno Rumbelow, Grapevine, Texas USA is an Assistant City Manager (Mayor)

Rumbelow Rentals. In 1969 a chain of television stores was renamed Rumbelows by the Thorn EMI UK group. The stores gained some prominence in the comedies written by Ben Elton, including several scenes from The Young

Ones. In 1995, facing mounting competition from bigger electrical retailers, Thorn EMI announced that it was rationalising the chain, either closing its stores or putting them into one of its other chains.