NameCensus.

UK surname

Coombe

A topographic surname derived from the Old English word meaning a small valley or hollow.

In the 1881 census there were 1,614 people recorded with the Coombe surname, ranking it #2,645 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,504, ranked #4,112, down from #2,645 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coombe is 1,967 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.8%.

1881 census count

1,614

Ranked #2,645

Modern count

1,504

2016, ranked #4,112

Peak year

1911

1,967 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coombe had 1,614 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,645 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,504 in 2016, ranked #4,112.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,967 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Coombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coombe 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 1,354 #2,122
1861 historical 1,476 #1,917
1881 historical 1,614 #2,645
1891 historical 1,845 #2,490
1901 historical 1,793 #2,922
1911 historical 1,967 #2,526
1997 modern 1,639 #3,624
1998 modern 1,673 #3,683
1999 modern 1,683 #3,690
2000 modern 1,687 #3,665
2001 modern 1,648 #3,671
2002 modern 1,657 #3,722
2003 modern 1,602 #3,760
2004 modern 1,580 #3,819
2005 modern 1,560 #3,821
2006 modern 1,506 #3,951
2007 modern 1,496 #4,008
2008 modern 1,490 #4,057
2009 modern 1,520 #4,073
2010 modern 1,543 #4,101
2011 modern 1,537 #4,064
2012 modern 1,515 #4,048
2013 modern 1,536 #4,065
2014 modern 1,527 #4,116
2015 modern 1,515 #4,103
2016 modern 1,504 #4,112

Geography

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Where Coombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon and Cornwall. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew Worcestershire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 012 Wychavon
2 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 036 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 023 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 025 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coombe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coombe, 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 Coombe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coombe 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Coombe is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coombe is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coombe 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 Coombe 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 Coombe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Coombe

The surname Coombe is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word 'cumb' or 'cumb', meaning a valley or a small valley between hills. This surname likely emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period, indicating that the earliest bearers of this name resided in or near such a valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Coombe can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'de Combe'. This entry suggests that the name was already established in certain parts of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname Coombe was recorded in various forms, including 'atte Combe' and 'de la Combe'. These variations reflect the influence of Old Norman French on the English language during this period, with the addition of prepositions like 'atte' (at the) and 'de la' (of the).

The surname Coombe is also closely linked to several place names in England, such as Coombe, Somerset, and Coombe Bissett, Wiltshire. It is possible that some early bearers of this surname derived their name from these locations.

One notable historical figure with the surname Coombe was William Coombe (1741-1823), an English writer, and poet. He is best known for his satirical works, including 'The Diaboliad' and 'The Devil upon Two Sticks'.

Another individual of note was Thomas Coombe (1747-1822), an English mathematician and astronomer. He served as the Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1788 until his death.

In the literary world, Frances Coombe (1794-1865) was a British writer and novelist. Some of her works include 'The Prophecy of the Hill' and 'The Monastery of St. Columb'.

Sir Archibald Coombe (1805-1875) was a prominent British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy. He achieved the rank of Admiral and held various commands throughout his career.

Finally, Edward Coombe (1861-1935) was a British author and journalist. He published several works on historical and biographical subjects, including 'The Life of George Cruikshank' and 'The Life of Samuel Johnson'.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coombe 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. Devon leads with 495 Coombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.03x.

County Total Index
Devon 495 15.03x
Cornwall 341 19.04x
Middlesex 150 0.95x
Surrey 79 1.02x
Kent 57 1.06x
Gloucestershire 54 1.74x
Lancashire 48 0.26x
Worcestershire 43 2.08x
Essex 36 1.15x
Sussex 29 1.09x
Wiltshire 29 2.07x
Somerset 28 1.10x
Dorset 27 2.60x
Yorkshire 27 0.17x
Warwickshire 25 0.63x
Durham 18 0.38x
Hampshire 16 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.75x
Buckinghamshire 14 1.46x
Cumberland 10 0.73x
Channel Islands 9 1.92x
Derbyshire 8 0.32x
Cheshire 7 0.20x
Anglesey 6 2.14x
Glamorgan 6 0.22x
Clackmannanshire 5 3.83x
Northamptonshire 5 0.34x
Royal Navy 5 2.65x
Ayrshire 4 0.34x
Lincolnshire 4 0.16x
Staffordshire 3 0.06x
Bedfordshire 2 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.20x
Herefordshire 2 0.31x
Hertfordshire 2 0.18x
Merionethshire 2 0.69x
Norfolk 2 0.08x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.10x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 43 Coombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.86x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 43 30.86x
St Austell 42 68.59x
Stoke Damerel 42 18.22x
Plymouth St Andrew 33 13.01x
St Dennis 33 493.27x
Plymouth Charles The 32 22.05x
Kensington London 27 3.07x
Newington 26 4.45x
Pershore Holy Cross 25 188.82x
St Pancras London 20 1.57x
Exeter St Sidwell 19 25.19x
Stoke Climsland 19 166.08x
Tavistock 19 50.64x
Lanteglos 18 217.39x
Dawlish 17 69.19x
Exbourne 15 735.29x
Hammersmith London 14 3.59x
Okehampton 14 112.72x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 4.45x
Crediton 13 41.65x
Greenwich 13 5.16x
Landrake 13 326.63x
Melksham 13 53.50x
Phillack 13 56.23x
St Marylebone London 13 1.54x
Altarnun 11 176.57x
Calstock 11 31.31x
Kenton 11 105.87x
Portland 11 19.70x
St Gluvias Penryn 11 76.66x
St Mary Magdalene 11 83.52x
Tiverton 11 19.39x
Wycombe 11 15.43x
Brighton 10 1.86x
Camborne 10 13.55x
Charlton Kings 10 46.58x
Chelsea London 10 2.10x
Great Torrington 10 53.56x
Horfield 10 32.02x
Millom 10 23.95x
North Tawton 10 98.81x
St Ive 10 87.03x
Stowford 10 471.70x
Birmingham 9 0.68x
Cheriton 9 40.89x
Cheriton Bishop 9 280.37x
Madron Penzance 9 13.82x
Perranzabuloe 9 58.25x
Bathwick 8 28.38x
Bradford Abbas 8 289.86x
Cliffe 8 88.79x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.92x
Liskeard 8 26.69x
Newark Upon Trent 8 10.44x
Pershore St Andrew 8 70.18x
Ramsgate 8 9.08x
Toxteth Park 8 1.26x
West Ham 8 1.16x
Wolsingham 8 18.65x
Alverstoke 7 5.96x
Bermondsey 7 1.49x
Bishopsteignton 7 112.36x
Chesterfield 7 7.54x
Croydon 7 1.64x
Exeter St Edmund 7 98.45x
Exeter St Lawrence 7 282.26x
Gorran 7 139.17x
Jacobstow 7 301.72x
Leamington Priors 7 7.13x
Nether Hallam 7 3.30x
Sampford Courtenay 7 142.28x
Settle 7 58.33x
Shoreditch London 7 1.02x
South Tawton 7 103.09x
Spreyton 7 338.16x
St Peter Port 7 8.07x
Stoke 7 52.51x
Winkleigh 7 105.90x
Budock 6 44.51x
Thrushelton 6 259.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 129
John 97
Thomas 58
James 35
Charles 32
George 30
Henry 30
Richard 27
Edward 20
Alfred 18
Joseph 17
Arthur 16
Samuel 14
Albert 13
Edwin 13
Francis 13
Frederick 13
Harry 11
Robert 9
Walter 9
Ernest 8
Daniel 6
Tom 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Frank 4
Joshua 4
Matthew 4
Nicholas 4
Sidney 4
Abraham 3
Christopher 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Oliver 3
Percy 3
Sydney 3
Willm. 3
Claude 2
David 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Gordon 2
Lionel 2
Percival 2
Peter 2
Reginald 2
Richd. 2
W. 2
Wm.John 2

FAQ

Coombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,614 people were recorded with the Coombe surname. That placed it at #2,645 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,504 in 2016. That gives Coombe a modern rank of #4,112.

What does the Coombe surname mean?

A topographic surname derived from the Old English word meaning a small valley or hollow.

What does the Coombe map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coombe 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.