Doncum History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsOf all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Doncum is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the village of Duncombe, in Durham. There is also a Duncombe in Lancashire which is in the north country too. This local name was originally derived from the Old English word dun, which literally means hill. The second part of the name, comb was originally derived from the Old English word cumb, which refers to a short, straight valley. Therefore Duncombe was literally a hill in a short, straight valley. 1 Early Origins of the Doncum familyThe surname Doncum was first found in Buckinghamshire where early records show Richard de Ingen held a barony in this shire since the Domesday Book. 2 "Duncombe or D'Engaine, [originated in] Engen or Ingen, near Boulogne, [Normandy, France]. Richard and William de Ingen accompanied the Conqueror. The former in 1086 held a barony in Buckinghamshire. Vitalis D'Ingen, his son, temp. Henry I., had Richard, who married a daughter of Alberic de Yer, Earl of Oxford, and was Baron of Blatherwick, Northamptonshire. His son, Richard D'Engaine, 1165, held in Buckinghamshire from Paganel of Dudley; and had, 1, Vitalis, ancestor of the Barons D'Engaine by writ, 1296; 2, Ralph D'Engaine (written Dungun or Dungeom in the Testa de Neville), 3 who held Holcombe, Oxford, and in 1253 as Ralph D'Ungun was Lord of Tingewick, Buckinghamshire." 4 From this latter reference, the name was listed as Dunguns, Dengaines, Dungems and then gradually was changed to Duncombe, the more popular spelling since the 16th century. "The manor-house of Tangley [in Wonersh, Surrey], originally a hunting-box of King John's, was in 1585 converted into a residence for the family of Sir Francis Duncombe." 5 "The Duncombes of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the 16th and 17th centuries were gentry of note and position, whose names occur among the list of contributors to the fund collected at the time of the expected invasion of the Spanish Armada in 1588. Those of Bedfordshire lived at that time at Battlesden and other places, and served as sheriffs for the county. The Duncombes or Doncombes of Buckinghamshire lived in the 16th century at Great Brickell, Barliende, Wingrave, Dinton, and East Claidon." 6 Early History of the Doncum familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Doncum research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1622, 1648, 1672, 1676, 1685, 1687, 1690, 1695, 1698, 1702, 1707, 1708, 1711, 1718, 1747, 1763, 1769, 1797, 1800, 1807 and 1826 are included under the topic Early Doncum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Doncum Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Doncum has been spelled many different ways, including Duncombe, Duncome, Duncomb, Duncome, Dunscomb, Dunscombe, Duncumb and many more. Early Notables of the Doncum familyNotables of the family at this time include Sir John Duncombe (1622-1687), an English politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer of England (1672-1676); Sir Charles Duncombe (1648-1711), English banker and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of the City of London; and William Duncombe (1690-1769), British author and playwright.
Anthony Duncombe (died 1708), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Hedon (1698-1702) and (1702-1707.) Hi son, Anthony Duncombe (1695-1763), was Sheriff of London, who was created 1st Baron Feversham in 1747. He was later Lord Feversham, Baron of Downton, in the County of Wilts. However, Lord... Migration of the Doncum familyThousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Doncums to arrive in North America: Joe Duncomb who arrived in Virginia in 1635; John Duncombe settled in Virginia in 1637; Richard Duncombe settled in Virginia in 1660; Thomas Duncombe settled in Virginia in 1653..
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