CHALMERS, Chambers. The correct forms are Chalmer and Chamber, from OF, de la chambre, of the chamber: (1) a chamber attendant, (2) of the Treasury chamber (camera), and so metonymic for CHAMBERLAIN, q.v. The spellings with -s are later. When the OF word was naturalized in Scots it lost b by elision, and received l to safeguard as it were, the length of the preceding vowel, as shown in the pronunciation 'chaamer' or 'chammer' (Gregory Smith, Specimens of Middle Scots, p xxiii-iv). |
CHALMERS
The arms of Chalmers of Aldbar A Study of the Surname CHALMERS.
|
This page was last updated on 11 Feb 2010 © John Chalmers 2010.
Visitors