Notes on the probable origin of the name Gemmill or Gemmell

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In the Chronica Majora of Matthew Paris, vol. iii.,
page 126, an entry occurs regarding a property in Norfolk
held in 1227 by Roberto filio Gamel. Reference may also
be made to the Tale of Gamelyn, with notes by Skeat.
From other old English records we find there were Gamolles
at Chester in the time of Edward III., and an MS. in the
British Museum gives the pedigree of the Chester family,
the spelling in the manuscript being Gamul. Other old
manuscripts preserved there give information regarding the
Gamulls of Salghall, Shropshire, and also of a family of
Gamuls de Eryliton, or some place like that (the writing is
very indistinct), but the county is Stafford. In the
Archceologia (London), vol. xlvii., pp. 105 and 106, a
Radulphus (Ralph) Gamell is about the year 1231 twice
mentioned in connection with some ground near Barnsley,
the spelling in the one case being Gamell, and in the
other Gamel, and in vol. Ivii., p. 83, there is an entry
under date 1450 that a " Raufe Gamul of Chester was of
the family of Gamul of Buerton." Occasionally we find
the name in the form Gambull and Gamble.
It will be noted that the earliest references to the name
Gamel occur in the north-east of England, particularly
Northumberland and Yorkshire. These districts were
specially affected by the incursions of the Anglo-Saxons
and Danes.
In addition to Gamelsby there were a number of
places commencing with Gamel, and probably most of