Show ContentsMorcombe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Morcombe family

The surname Morcombe was first found in Dorset where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1240 when it was recorded, strangely, as Mortcombe.

Early History of the Morcombe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Morcombe research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Morcombe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Morcombe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Morecombe, Mortcombe, Morcomb, Morecomb, Morcombe, Morcum, Morcom and many more.

Early Notables of the Morcombe family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Morcombe of Dorset


United States Morcombe migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Morcombe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Johnson Morcombe, who arrived in Virginia in 1680
Morcombe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Josias Morcombe, who settled in America in 1726

Canada Morcombe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Morcombe Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Morcombe, (b. 1830), aged 25, English labourer, from Lifton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 1
  • Mrs. Jane Morcombe, (b. 1833), aged 22, English settler, from Lifton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she died in the sinking 1
  • Mr. George Morcombe, (b. 1851), aged 4, English settler, from Lifton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he died in the sinking 1
  • Mr. John Morcombe, (b. 1853), aged 2, English settler, from Lifton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he died in the sinking 1
  • Miss Ellen Morcombe, (b. 1854), aged 1, English settler, from Lifton, Devon, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, she died in the sinking 1

Australia Morcombe migration to Australia +

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

Morcombe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George Morcombe, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Sea Park"

New Zealand Morcombe migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Morcombe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Morcombe, (b. 1840), aged 30, Cornish general servant departing on 23rd September 1870 aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd December 1870 2
  • Miss Mary Morcombe, (b. 1840), aged 30, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd December 1870 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Morcombe (post 1700) +

  • Mr. Kenneth Alan Morcombe M.B.E., British Governor for St Giles School in Croydon was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities 4


  1. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
  2. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  4. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1


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