Show ContentsChalcombe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Chalcombe family

The surname Chalcombe was first found in Devon at Challacombe, a parish, in the union of Barnstaple, hundred of Sherwill. The name Challacombe literally means "cold valley", having been derived from the Old English words ceald ('cold') and cumb ('valley'). 1

Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Challacombe held by a steward of the Geoffri de Mowbray, Bishop of Coutance, a powerful Norman noble who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. 2

Hugh de Chaucombe (fl. 1200), was an early English justiciar, "probably born at Chalcombe in Northamptonshire; at least, it is certain that it was from that place that he received his surname. He is first mentioned in 1108, in the Great Roll of Henry II, as having paid 30l. for relief of six knights' fees in the diocese of Lincoln, in which Chalcombe was then included." 3

Challacombe (1902-1917) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire named after the village.

Early History of the Chalcombe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chalcombe research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chalcombe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chalcombe Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Chalacombe, Challacombe, Chalcombe, Chalcum, Chalcumbe, Chalcumb, Challacumb and many more.

Early Notables of the Chalcombe family

More information is included under the topic Early Chalcombe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chalcombe family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Chalcombe name or one of its variants: Robert Challacome, a servant sent from Bristol to the plantations of Virginia in 1661; John Challacombe, who settled in Stafford, Genesee County, N. Y. in 1833.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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