Halcombe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Halcombe comes from the family having resided in Holcombe, in Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset. The place-name is derived from the Old English elements hol, which means "deep" or "hollow," and cumb, which means "valley." The place-name taken as a whole means "deep hollow valley." 1

Early Origins of the Halcombe family

The surname Halcombe was first found in Devon where Holcombe Rogus is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 2 Rogo held the manor in 1086.

From this earliest reference, the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. listed Henry de Holecoumbe, Devon, Henry III-Edward I. 3 Later the Hundrodorum Rolls of 1273 listed: John de Holecumbe, Somerset, Geoffrey de Holecumb, Oxfordshire, and Simon de Holecumb, Oxfordshire. 4

The source Old English Bynames listed Brihtmer at Holacumbe c.1100-30 and Adam de Holecumb was listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1256. 5

Early History of the Halcombe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Halcombe research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1301, 1525, 1690, 1706, 1707, 1708 and 1750 are included under the topic Early Halcombe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Halcombe Spelling Variations

Halcombe 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: Holcombe, Holcomb and others.

Early Notables of the Halcombe family

Notables of the family at this time include Henry Holcombe (1690?-1750?), English musical composer, born about 1690, probably at Shrewsbury, and was a chorister there. " While still a boy, he came to London, and took part in the ‘Anglo-Italian’ operatic performances at Drury Lane. His...
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Halcombe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Halcombe family

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 Halcombes to arrive on North American shores: Thomas Holcomb, who settled in Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1630; Andrew and Thomas Holcombe settled in Barbados in 1663; Sarah Holcombe settled in Jamaica in 1664.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
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)