Show ContentsBiddlecombe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The lineage of the name Biddlecombe begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in Bittiscombe, in Somerset. The placename was first recorded in 1180 in the form Bitelescumba, and experts theorize that it is derived from the Old English personal name Bitel and the word cumb, which means valley. Thus the surname Biddlecombe literally means the dweller at Bitta's valley.

Early Origins of the Biddlecombe family

The surname Biddlecombe was first found in Somerset, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Biddlecombe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biddlecombe research. Another 251 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1273, 1500, 1576, 1747, 1750, 1807 and 1878 are included under the topic Early Biddlecombe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Biddlecombe Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Biddlecombe has undergone many spelling variations, including Biddlecombe, Bittiscumbe, Bittiscombe, Bitelescumbe, Biteliscombe, Biddelcombe, Biddalcomb and many more.

Early Notables of the Biddlecombe family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Sir George Biddlecombe (1807-1878), an accomplished captain in the Royal navy and a noted 19th century author on naval tactics


United States Biddlecombe migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Biddlecombe were among those contributors:

Biddlecombe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Richard Biddlecombe, (Bidlcombe), aged 16, servant who arrived aboard the ship "Confidence" in 1638 in New England and Boston stated, bound for Sudbury [1]
Biddlecombe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Biddlecombe, (b. 1872), aged 20, Cornish carpenter, from Launceston, Cornwall, UK, travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 1st June 1892 en route to New York, USA on [2]

Australia Biddlecombe migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Biddlecombe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Charlotte Biddlecombe, (b. 1809), aged 25, English needle woman who was convicted in Dorset, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 23rd April 1834, arriving in Tasmania, (Van Diemen's Land) [3]
  • John Biddlecombe, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hibernia" in 1851 [4]
  • Jane Biddlecombe, aged 20, a house maid, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Chatham" [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Biddlecombe (post 1700) +

  • Terry Biddlecombe (1941-2014), English National Hunt racing jockey, Champion Jockey in 1965, 1966 and 1969, eponym of the Terry Biddlecombe Challenge Trophy
  • Sir George Biddlecombe (1807-1878), English naval officer and author

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Reginald Charles Biddlecombe (d. 1912), aged 33, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [6]


The Biddlecombe Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Non Omnis Moriam
Motto Translation: Not all memory


  1. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  2. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retreived 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HIBERNIA 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Hibernia.gif
  5. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CHATHAM 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/chatham1852.shtml
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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