NameCensus.

UK surname

Comber

A surname derived from the occupation of a wool comber or dresser.

In the 1881 census there were 1,009 people recorded with the Comber surname, ranking it #3,883 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,043, ranked #5,594, down from #3,883 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Portland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, North Devon and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Comber is 1,270 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.

1881 census count

1,009

Ranked #3,883

Modern count

1,043

2016, ranked #5,594

Peak year

1911

1,270 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Comber had 1,009 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,883 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,043 in 2016, ranked #5,594.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,270 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Comber surname distribution map

The map shows where the Comber surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Comber surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Comber over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 935 #2,961
1861 historical 980 #2,837
1881 historical 1,009 #3,883
1891 historical 1,188 #3,611
1901 historical 1,248 #3,967
1911 historical 1,270 #3,738
1997 modern 1,117 #4,999
1998 modern 1,146 #5,081
1999 modern 1,154 #5,096
2000 modern 1,184 #4,963
2001 modern 1,148 #4,996
2002 modern 1,113 #5,227
2003 modern 1,105 #5,164
2004 modern 1,082 #5,271
2005 modern 1,048 #5,341
2006 modern 1,032 #5,420
2007 modern 1,056 #5,360
2008 modern 1,051 #5,428
2009 modern 1,065 #5,474
2010 modern 1,066 #5,578
2011 modern 1,077 #5,468
2012 modern 1,057 #5,461
2013 modern 1,056 #5,567
2014 modern 1,056 #5,605
2015 modern 1,046 #5,594
2016 modern 1,043 #5,594

Geography

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Where Combers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes, Portland and Lindfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, North Devon, Mendip and Lewes. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portland Dorset
5 Lindfield Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 001 Mid Sussex
2 Mid Sussex 006 Mid Sussex
3 North Devon 005 North Devon
4 Mendip 002 Mendip
5 Lewes 001 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Comber

These lists show first names that appear often with the Comber surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Comber

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Comber, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Comber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Comber household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Comber is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Comber is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Comber falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Comber is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Comber, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Comber

The surname "Comber" is of English origin, derived from a medieval occupation and place name. It likely emerged in the 12th or 13th century, referring to individuals who worked as wool or flax combers, an important trade in the textile industry at the time. The name is derived from the Old English word "cemban," meaning "to comb," and the Old French word "combere," meaning "a comber of wool or flax."

The surname was particularly prevalent in areas with a strong textile industry, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which lists a "Johannes Comber" residing in the village of Bradfield.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Combere," "Combare," and "Cumbere," reflecting the regional dialects of the time. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 mention a "Robert le Cumbere," while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1428 records a "John Combare."

The surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Comber in Staffordshire and Cumberworth in West Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from the Old English words "cumbra" or "cymbre," meaning "a valley or hollow," suggesting that some individuals with the surname may have originated from these locations.

Notable historical figures with the surname "Comber" include:

1. Thomas Comber (1575-1653), an English clergyman and author of several religious works. 2. John Comber (1644-1699), an English academic and theologian who served as the Dean of Durham Cathedral. 3. William Comber (1805-1857), an English architect known for his work on several churches in Yorkshire. 4. Henry Comber (1846-1926), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Stockport from 1895 to 1906. 5. Thomas Comber (1856-1919), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Essex and Nottinghamshire in the late 19th century.

While the surname "Comber" is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, reflecting the country's historical ties to the textile industry and the diverse occupations and places that shaped its nomenclature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Comber families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Comber surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Sussex leads with 368 Combers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.24x.

County Total Index
Sussex 368 22.24x
Surrey 234 4.89x
Middlesex 125 1.27x
Lancashire 47 0.40x
Kent 38 1.13x
Essex 26 1.34x
Yorkshire 24 0.25x
Hampshire 20 0.99x
Somerset 18 1.14x
Cheshire 16 0.74x
Wiltshire 14 1.61x
Suffolk 11 0.92x
Worcestershire 11 0.86x
Devon 9 0.44x
Rutland 6 8.33x
East Lothian 5 3.85x
Midlothian 5 0.38x
Northamptonshire 5 0.54x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.67x
Cornwall 4 0.36x
Hertfordshire 4 0.59x
Gloucestershire 3 0.16x
Oxfordshire 2 0.33x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.51x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Radnorshire 1 1.26x
Royal Navy 1 0.86x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 95 Combers recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.46x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 95 28.46x
Reigate Foreign 49 94.65x
Lower Beeding 31 704.55x
Horsham 27 84.01x
Cuckfield 24 143.63x
Lindfield 23 329.04x
Lambeth 22 2.57x
Preston 21 72.69x
West Hoathly 21 403.85x
St Marylebone London 20 3.82x
Kingston On Thames 19 16.54x
Camberwell 18 2.87x
Clapham 17 13.86x
Hove 16 22.04x
Mile End Old Town London 16 7.66x
Newington 16 4.41x
Slaugham 16 299.07x
St Pancras London 15 1.90x
Horley 14 174.78x
West Ham 14 3.27x
Battersea 13 3.60x
Islington London 12 1.26x
Hackney London 11 2.00x
Hoole 11 134.31x
Southwick 11 125.71x
Enfield 10 15.53x
Nuthurst 10 364.96x
Balcombe 9 305.08x
Bedminster 9 6.06x
Charlwood 9 196.51x
Corsham 9 71.09x
Aldershot 8 11.87x
Bermondsey 8 2.74x
Bolney 8 297.40x
Bradford 8 3.40x
Leigh 8 454.55x
Newton In Makerfield 8 22.43x
West Grinstead 8 160.32x
Barrow In Furness 7 4.42x
Bromsgrove 7 16.23x
Houghton Middleton 7 864.20x
Maidstone 7 7.02x
Manchester 7 1.34x
Portsea 7 1.78x
Wimbledon 7 13.04x
Woodford 7 31.92x
Acton 6 10.43x
Ardingly 6 114.07x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 6 26.75x
Huddersfield 6 4.24x
Oakham Lordshold 6 79.58x
Baildon 5 27.31x
Berwick North 5 54.95x
Godstone 5 58.34x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 5 45.09x
Lewisham 5 2.80x
Over Stowey 5 284.09x
Paddington London 5 1.39x
Pendlebury 5 20.33x
Shipley 5 133.33x
Shoreditch London 5 1.18x
St Pauls Cray 5 195.31x
Swindon 5 7.43x
Abinger 4 100.76x
Bury 4 3.01x
Clayton 4 64.21x
Edinburgh Old Church 4 37.91x
Eton 4 29.74x
Great Warley 4 91.12x
Kemsing 4 268.46x
Membury 4 184.33x
Subdeanary 4 89.89x
Bromley London 3 1.39x
Eastbourne 3 3.94x
Fletching 3 40.54x
Landrake 3 121.46x
Mortlake 3 14.08x
Plumstead 3 2.69x
Rotherhithe 3 2.47x
Withyam 3 42.37x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Comber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Comber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 64
John 51
George 32
James 31
Thomas 25
Charles 23
Henry 23
Edward 16
Alfred 13
Arthur 13
Richard 13
Frederick 10
Joseph 9
Frank 8
Harry 8
Walter 7
Albert 6
Benjamin 6
Robert 6
Edmund 5
Chas. 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Samuel 4
Herbert 3
Abraham 2
Alan 2
Ambrose 2
Andrew 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Jesse 2
Michael 2
Oliver 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
Saml. 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Benjn. 1
Bowman 1
Edwd. 1
Elias 1
Elvin 1
Jno. 1
Wm.Amos 1

FAQ

Comber surname: questions and answers

How common was the Comber surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,009 people were recorded with the Comber surname. That placed it at #3,883 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Comber surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,043 in 2016. That gives Comber a modern rank of #5,594.

What does the Comber surname mean?

A surname derived from the occupation of a wool comber or dresser.

What does the Comber map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Comber bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.