Coldbeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Coldbeck

What does the name Coldbeck mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Coldbeck comes from the family having resided in Cumberland at Caldbeck. 1 The earliest record of the place was in the 11th century when it was known as Caldebek and literally meant "cold stream," from the Viking "kaldr" + "bekkr." 2

One source presumes the name was originally Norman having derived from the place names Caudebec or Caldebec, Normandy. The author notes "William de Caudebec occurs in the Duchy 1180-1195." 3

Early Origins of the Coldbeck family

The surname Coldbeck was first found in Cumberland where the family claim descent from Caldbeck, a parish in the union of Wigton, Allerdale ward below Derwent. "The river Caldbeck flows through the village and the church bears date 1112, 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." 4

Here we find Alan de Caudebec in the Pipe Rolls of 1214. Later, Thomas de Caldebek was listed as a Freeman of Yorl in 1321 and later again, Henry Caldebek was found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1453. 5

Early History of the Coldbeck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Coldbeck research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1700, 1708, 1787 and 1806 are included under the topic Early Coldbeck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Coldbeck Spelling Variations

Coldbeck has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Calderbank, Calderbeck, Caldebank, Caldebeck, Coldbeck, Colebeck, Colebank, Colderbank, Coulderbank, Coulderbeck, Colderback, Coldeback and many more.

Early Notables of the Coldbeck family

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

Coldbeck migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Coldbecks to arrive on North American shores:

Coldbeck Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Coldbeck, who was naturalized in California in 1879

Contemporary Notables of the name Coldbeck (post 1700) +

Stephen Coldbeck, British actor, known for J1S (2021), Blood on the Canvas (2018) and Domino (Lockdown) (2020)
Harry Coldbeck, British co-author of The Maltese Spitfire: 1942 – One Pilot and One Plane Searching for the Enemy on Land and Sea

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)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)