Coulbeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Coulbeck name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived near a cold stream. The surname Coulbeck is derived from the Old English word ceald, which means cold, and the Old Norse word bekkr, which means stream.

Alternatively the name could have been derived from Caldbeck, a parish, in the union of Wigton, Allerdale ward below Derwent, in Cumberland. "The church bears date 1112, and was founded soon after the establishment of an hospital for travellers, by the prior of Carlisle, with the permission of Ranulph D'Engain, chief forester of Inglewood." 1

Another source claims the name to be Norman from Caudebec or Caldebec, Normandy. William de Caudebec occurs in the Duchy 1180-1195. 2

Early Origins of the Coulbeck family

The surname Coulbeck was first found in Cumberland, but early records of the family are very scarce. Alan de Caudebec held lands there in 1214. Thomas de Caldebek was recorded in Yorkshire in 1321 although this may have been confused with Cumberland. 3

Early History of the Coulbeck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coulbeck research. Another 50 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1664, 1680, 1683, 1696, 1716, 1728, 1729, 1748, 1787, 1790, 1798 and 1806 are included under the topic Early Coulbeck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coulbeck Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Coulbeck were recorded, including Colbeck, Caldebeck, Coulbeck, Colebeck, Coldbeck, Caldbeck, Callbeck, Calbeck, Coleback, Coalbeck, Callback, Coallbeck, Colbatch, Collback and many more.

Early Notables of the Coulbeck family

Distinguished members of the family include John Colbatch (1664-1748), an English divine, admitted to St. Peter's, Westminster, as a scholar in 1680, and proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1683. 4Sir John Colbatch (d. 1729), was English physician, a native...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Coulbeck Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coulbeck migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Coulbeck family emigrate to North America:

Coulbeck Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Clare F. Coulbeck, aged 32, who immigrated to the United States from Mexico City, Mexico, in 1912

Contemporary Notables of the name Coulbeck (post 1700) +

Neil Coulbeck (1952-2006), English banker with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print