Groombridge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Groombridge family

The surname Groombridge was first found in Kent at Groombridge, a village and chapelry, in the parish of Speldhurst, union of Tonbridge, hundred of Somerden. 1 The earliest record of the place was found in 1239 when it was listed as Gromenebregge. 2

Literally, the place name means "bridge where young men congregate," from the Middle English word "grome" + the Old English word "brycg." 2

Groombridge Place is a moated manor house in the village of Groombridge which dates back to 1239 when the Lordship of Groomsbridge was granted. Later in 1560, William Grumbridge held estates near Staplehurst in that county. 3

Early History of the Groombridge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Groombridge research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1484, 1487 and 1677 are included under the topic Early Groombridge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Groombridge Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Groombridge, Gumbridge, Grimbridge, Grumebridge, Croombridge, Crombrig, Grombrig, Crombrig, Crumbridge and many more.

Early Notables of the Groombridge family

Distinguished members of the family include

the Groombridge family of Kent

Groombridge migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Groombridge Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Groombridge, who landed in America in 1802 4

Groombridge migration to Australia +

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

Groombridge Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

George Groombridge, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orleana" in 1840 5

Groombridge 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:

Groombridge Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mary Groombridge, aged 24, a dressmaker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Aurora" in 1840
Alfred W. Groombridge, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 6
Sarah Groombridge, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 6
Alfred Groombridge, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 6
Mr. Alfred W. Groombridge, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Groombridge (post 1700) +

Kate Groombridge (b. 1980), English fashion model and actress
William Ironside Groombridge, English secretary of English football club Gillingham from 1896 until 1923
William Groombridge (1748-1811), British water-colour painter who first appears as an exhibitor of landscapes at the Royal Academy in 1770, and continued to exhibit up to 1790 8
Stephen Groombridge FRS (1755-1832), British merchant and astronomer, born at Goudhurst in Kent on 7 Jan. 1755 8
Brian Groombridge (b. 1953), Canadian visual artist
George Groombridge (b. 1928), New Zealand former politician, President of New Zealand First (2006-2010)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ORLEANA 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Orleana.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 30 June 2020