Tombs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Tombs surname is one of the many derivatives of the Biblical first name that we know as Thomas. Originally an Aramic word that meant "twin," there are several surnames in most European languages that derive from this same source.
Early Origins of the Tombs family
The surname Tombs was first found in the county of Worcestershire, in central England where they have been found since at least 1327, when Walter Tomes was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls.
Early History of the Tombs family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Tombs research. Another 86 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1601, 1602, 1701 and 1702 are included under the topic Early Tombs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Tombs Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Tomb, Tombs, Tome, Toms, Toume, Tomes, Toombes and many more.
Early Notables of the Tombs family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
Tombs migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Tombs Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Rich. Tombs, who was listed in a Virginia land grant in 1636
Tombs Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- James Tombs, who was an emigrant in bondage, arriving in America in 1736
Tombs migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Tombs Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- Mrs. Bella Tombs, aged 51 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Sir Robert Peel" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on 27th September 1847 1
Tombs migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Tombs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Mr. Thomas Tombs, British convict who was convicted in Berkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
- Mr. John Tombs, (b. 1795), aged 24, English labourer who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for life for larceny, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1888 3
- Thomas Tombs, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Marion" in 1849 4
- Mr. Charles Tombs, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 20 years, transported aboard the "Edwin Fox" on 24th August 1858, arriving in Western Australia, Australia
Tombs 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:
Tombs Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. Charles Tombs, (b. 1844), aged 16, British farm labourer travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 5
- Susan H. Tombs, aged 21, a housemaid, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "British Queen" in 1883 6
Contemporary Notables of the name Tombs (post 1700) +
- Francis Leonard Tombs (1924-2020), Baron Tombs,an English industrialist and politician
- Sir Henry Tombs (1824-1874), British Major-General, son of Major-General Tombs, Bengal cavalry, who came of an old family settled since the fifteenth century at Long Marston, Gloucestershire
Citations +