Colebeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Colebeck comes from when the family 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 Colebeck family

The surname Colebeck 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 Colebeck family

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

Colebeck Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Colebeck has been recorded under many different variations, including Calderbank, Calderbeck, Caldebank, Caldebeck, Coldbeck, Colebeck, Colebank, Colderbank, Coulderbank, Coulderbeck, Colderback, Coldeback and many more.

Early Notables of the Colebeck family

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

Colebeck migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Colebeck or a variant listed above:

Colebeck Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Colebeck, who was granted land in Virginia in 1668

Colebeck Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Lucas Colebeck, who was sent as a bonded emigrant from England to America in 1707

Contemporary Notables of the name Colebeck (post 1700) +

E. L. Colebeck, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1952

Citations +

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)