A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Comber family of England.
Reg. 6804 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Or, a fesse dancettée gu. betw. three estoiles sa”
SussexSussex, c. 1620
Where the Comber Arms Were Recorded
Sussex
Map of England showing where the Comber arms are recorded
The Comber arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Comber arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sussex.
Origin & History of the Comber Family in England
The surname Comber is an occupational name that likely originated in medieval England to describe a person who worked as a wool comber. In the textile industry of the Middle Ages, a comber was responsible for straightening and cleaning raw wool fibers using metal combs before the material could be spun into yarn. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Sussex. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Comber family were active in this region, where they were often involved in local agriculture and the thriving rural economy of the South Downs. Over time, the family became well-integrated into the social fabric of Sussex, with various branches contributing to the development of local parishes and communities throughout the 1600s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cumbrian
Referring to the ancient Celtic people of the region of Cumbria.
This name
ComberAn occupational or habitational name for someone who originated from the region of Cumbria in Northern England.
also spelled
Combar
Combre
Cumbar
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
The National Archives, Prerogative Court of Canterbury and Related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
starThe celestial goddess, and nobility
