Stumbles

Stumbles (also spelt Stumbels) is a family name probably originating in the United Kingdom but nowadays also found in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada, and the United States.

Origin

A Dictionary Of British Surnames^[1] lists a Gervase atte Stumble of 1296 and a Juliana Stumbel of 1311 and suggests a meaning (derived from Old English stumbel) of "Dweller by the tree-stump".

The name was found relatively frequently in the West Country especially the South Hams region of Devon from the early 18th century.^[2] It is now rare in the United Kingdom but found more commonly in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, USA, and Zimbabwe.

Stumbles people

• William Stumbels, clockmaker
• Albert Smith Stumbles built many buildings in Salcombe around the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

References

1. P. H. Reaney: A Dictionary Of British Surnames, Routledge and Keegan Paul 1958–1976, ISBN 0-7100-8106-5.
2. Records from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) (1984)