Holcomb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Holcomb first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived 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 Holcomb family

The surname Holcomb 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 Holcomb family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Holcomb 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 Holcomb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Holcomb Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Holcomb has appeared include Holcombe, Holcomb and others.

Early Notables of the Holcomb 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...

Holcomb Ranking

In the United States, the name Holcomb is the 959^th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 6

Holcomb migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Holcomb arrived in North America very early:

Holcomb Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Holcomb who settled in Nantucket Massachusetts in 1630

Holcomb Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ewd. R. Holcomb, aged 50, who settled in America, in 1894

Holcomb Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James F. Holcomb, aged 68, who immigrated to the United States from Jhansi, India, in 1905
George Holcomb, aged 53, who landed in America, in 1906
Benjamin Holcomb, who immigrated to the United States, in 1908
B.R. Holcomb, aged 15, who landed in America, in 1909
Cora Holcomb, aged 48, who settled in America, in 1910
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Holcomb migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Holcomb Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Jeremiah Holcomb U.E., "Jaramiah" from Hakingsack, New Jersey, USA who settled in New Brunswick c. 1783 passenger aboard the Union Transport 7
Mr. John Holcomb Jr., U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Holcomb (post 1700) +

Rod Holcomb (1943-2024), American television director and producer, best known for directing the pilot and finale of ER
Steven Holcomb (1980-2017), American twenty-eight time gold medalist bobsledder
Bobby Holcomb (1947-1991), American artist and musician
Sarah Holcomb (b. 1960), American actress
Drew Holcomb, American singer and songwriter
Amasa Holcomb (1787-1875), American farmer, surveyor, civil engineer, businessman, and manufacturer of surveying instruments
William Robert "Bob" Holcomb (1922-2010), American politician and attorney
Corey Holcomb, American stand-up comedian, radio host, and actor
Raed Elhamali Holcomb (b. 1979), American professional basketball player
Stuart K. Holcomb (1910-1977), American football and basketball coach
... (Another 56 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X