Surname Coomb - Meaning and Origin

Coomb: What does the surname Coomb mean?

The last name Coomb is of English origin and is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘comb’, which refers to the comb-like shape of the ridges and valleys of hilly terrain. The surname is most commonly found in Devon, England and is believed to have originated in Celtic times. The spelling of the name has evolved over time, including variants Coombs, Coombe, and Coombs. Families with this name were typically farmers and agriculturalists, and the original variation of the name is thought to have been associated with a particular valley or river, referring to thephysical geographical shape of that landscape. As these familieswheeled, the name spread to different areas of England and Wales.

Today, Coomb is a surname shared by individuals all over the world. In the United States, Coomb is a common last name among immigrants from the United Kingdom or Ireland. Coomb is an unusual name, so those who share it are often able to connect to each other online or by DNA searches. The Coomb family can be found across England, Wales, Scotland, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as several other countries. They often share a sense of pride in their shared name, stemming from its Irish and Celtic roots.

Coomb: Where does the name Coomb come from?

The surname Coomb is most common today in England and Wales with 641 people currently bearing the name. It is predominantly distributed in the South West of England, particularly in Dorset with 277 people recorded as having the surname. This is likely due to the large concentration of Coomb families that lived in the region at the time of the 1881 census.

The origin of the name itself is unclear, however, it may originate from the Old English word cumb, which means a valley. Alternatively, the name might be a variant of comb, which was a word used to describe a valley between hills or a ravine.

In other parts of the UK, Coomb is much rarer. There are only 26 people with the surname in Scotland and eight people in Northern Ireland. In the United States, the name is even less common with only three Coomb individuals recorded in the last census. The majority of these (two) reside in California, while the remaining individual is based in Michigan.

Overall, Coomb is most prevalent in the South West of England and is much more rare than other surnames in the rest of the UK and the United States.

Variations of the surname Coomb

The surname Coomb is believed to have derived from the ancient geographic areas of Kent, Surrey and Sussex in England. It is likely that the original bearer of the name was a person of Coomb, a small hamlet in the southeast of England. Variants of the surname Coomb include Coombs, Coombe, Combs, Coomes, Coombs and Coombses.

Spelling variants of Coomb include Coombes, Combes, Coomes, Cooms and Combes. It is likely that some of these spelling variants derived from an illiterate ancestor, whereby names linked with a similar sound were used interchangeably within the same family.

A number of surnames are believed to share a common origin with Coomb and these include Coombe (originally derived from a location with this name near London), Coome (originally derived from a village in Worcestershire), Coombs (likely derived from Coombe), Coomes (originally derived from villages in Dorset), and Coombses (originally derived from Coomb, a parish in England).

In modern times, the surname Coomb can be found throughout the United States, Australia, Canada and many other countries. Common spelling variants, including Coombs, Coombe, Combs, Coomes, Coombs and Coombses, can also be found in these countries. While it is likely that all variants of the Coomb surname are derived from a common root, it is possible that different branches of the same family may have adopted different spellings of the name over time.

Famous people with the name Coomb

• Ainslie Coomb: Artist and lecturer in painting and drawing
• Paul Coombes: English musician and frontman for the band ‘Manfred Mann's Earth Band’
• Gary Coombes: Former bassist for the band ‘Manfred Mann's Earth Band’
• Chris Coombes: English left-back footballer, who most recently played for Wealdstone F.C.
• Andre Coombes: British author and playwright
• Terry Coombes: English former football player who played as a midfielder for England
• David Coombes: English poet, journalist, and broadcaster
• David Coombes: English astronomer
• Dan Coombes: Professional drummer, currently with the London-based rock band ‘The Darkness’
• David Coombes: Managing Director of Centre for Cities
• William Coombes: British novelist
• Frazier Coombes: U.S.-based musician and songwriter
• Henry Coombes: Skinner, Footman, of Sherburn Hall
• John Coombes: English recipient of the Victoria Cross
• Matthew Coombes: Retired English boxer who won the English Lightweight title
• Thomas Coombes: English actor, best known for his roles in ‘X-Men: First Class’ and ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’
• Tony Coombes: English former professional footballer who played for Millwall and Reading
• Selina Coombes: English cricketer who captains the Kent Women's cricket team
• Savannah Coombes: Welsh actress, best known for her roles in ‘Doctor Who’ and ‘Torchwood’

Other surnames

CoombeCoombesCoombsCoomerCoomes