Colber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Colber

What does the name Colber mean?

The name Colber is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a person bearing some fancied resemblance to a dove, such as mildness of temper. The surname Colber is derived from the Old English word culfre, which in turn came from the Late Latin word columbula; this is a derivative of columba, which means dove. The nickname culfre was also used as a term of endearment. 1

Early Origins of the Colber family

The surname Colber was first found in Herefordshire where one of the first records of the name was William Culvere, or Culvert who was listed there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same roll lists Jon Culvard, or Culverd, or Culvert in Oxfordshire. 1 Geoffrey Kuluer was listed in a census dated 1215-1219 and Thomas Colvere was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Kent in 1334. 2

Early History of the Colber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Colber research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1273 is included under the topic Early Colber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Colber Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Colber have been found, including Culver, Culvere and others.

Early Notables of the Colber family

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

Colber migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Colber surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Colber Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nicolaus Colber, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737 3

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)