Show ContentsCumber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Cumber is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in Comberford, in Staffordshire having derived from the Old English elements cumbre and ford, and meant "ford of the Britons." [1]

Early Origins of the Cumber family

The surname Cumber was first found in Staffordshire at Comberford, a small village that dates back to 1187 when it was first listed as Cumbreford. [1]

Early History of the Cumber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cumber research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cumber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cumber Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Cumber are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Cumber include: Cumberford, Cummerford, Comberford, Cumber, Camelford, Camellford, Campbellford, Comerford and many more.

Early Notables of the Cumber family (pre 1700)

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

Ireland Migration of the Cumber family to Ireland

Some of the Cumber family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 37 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Cumber migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cumber Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Cumber, (b. 1810), aged 27, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years forlarceny, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [2]
  • Mr. Samuel Cumber, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 26th May 1843, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Cumber (post 1700) +

  • Sada Cumber, 1st United States Ambassador to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asiatic


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