Show ContentsMcComb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The McComb surname comes from the Gaelic MacComaidh, which is in turn from MacThomaidh or MacThom. The same Gaelic names have often been Anglicized Thomson. 1

Early Origins of the McComb family

The surname McComb was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

"The 'b' was introduced into the name about the end of the eighteenth century. MacComy was a common surname in Breadalbana 250 and more years ago. The Glenshee MaacComies date their rise from the latter half of the fourteenth century. They appear as a distinct family in Glenshee in the sixteenth century, and in a feu-charter of the lands of Finnegand and Glenbeg granted in 1571 to John M'Comy Moir they are described as being 'ab antiquo' tenants and possessors of these lands." 1

Early History of the McComb family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McComb research. Another 254 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1508, 1540, 1542, 1556, 1586, 1587, 1595, 1623, 1638, 1644, 1645, 1663, 1696, 1760 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McComb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McComb Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacComb, MacCombe, MacCombie, MacCombs, MacCome, MacComie, McCome, McKComb, Mackcome, McComey, Coomey and many more.

Early Notables of the McComb family

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

McComb Ranking

In the United States, the name McComb is the 7,665th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2

Migration of the McComb family to Ireland

Some of the McComb family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


McComb migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McComb Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John McComb, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1688 3
McComb Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alexander McComb, aged 21, who landed in New York, NY in 1775 3
McComb Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas McComb, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1802 3
  • Robert McComb, aged 20, who arrived in Rhode Island in 1812 3
  • Daniel McComb, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 3
  • James McComb, who landed in New York, NY in 1831 3
  • Marshall McComb, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1848 3
McComb Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alfred McComb, aged 8, who immigrated to America, in 1908
  • Alice Coey McComb, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1910
  • Alexander McComb, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
  • Alexander H. McComb, aged 37, who landed in America, in 1921
  • Agnes McComb, aged 37, who immigrated to the United States from Belfast, in 1921
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McComb migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McComb Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William McComb, aged 7 months who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Constitution" departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 29th May 1847 4
  • Mr. Robert McComb, aged 36 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Ganges" departing 16th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 21st August 1847 but he died on board 5

McComb migration to Australia +

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

McComb Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James McComb, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 9th Mary 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 6
  • Mary McComb, aged 28, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Fitzjames"

McComb migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McComb Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert McComb, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • Thomas R. McComb, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • Jane McComb, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Woodlark" in 1873
  • Adam McComb, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Escocesa" in 1876

Contemporary Notables of the name McComb (post 1700) +

  • Isaac N. McComb (1850-1938), American physician and politician from Hortonville, Wisconsin
  • Archie McComb (1885-1968), American politician, Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1912
  • Carol McComb, American singer and instrumentalist, one half of the duo Kathy and Carol, active in the 1960s
  • Jerome "Jeremy" McComb, American country music artist and former tour manager for comedian Larry the Cable Guy
  • Eleazer McComb (1740-1798), American merchant and politician from Dover, Delaware, Delegate from Delaware to the Continental Congress (1783-1784)
  • William McComb (1828-1918), American Confederate brigadier general from Mercer County, Pennsylvania
  • Marshall F. McComb (1894-1981), American jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California (1956-1977), Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Second District (1937-1956)
  • John McComb Jr. (1763-1853), American architect in New York City, New York, known for his many landmarks including New York City Hall (1803), Montauk Lighthouse (1796) and many more
  • Frank McComb (b. 1970), American soul singer and keyboardist from Cleveland, Ohio
  • Colin McComb (b. 1970), American writer and game designer who won an Origins Award for Best Game Adventure in 1993 for Dragon Mountain
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Indianapolis
  • Everett Albert Mccomb, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he was one of the many who were killed in the sinking due to exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning and shark attacks 7


The McComb Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Touch not the cat bot a glove
Motto Translation: Don't touch the cat without a glove.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 43)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 86)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  7. Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew


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