Map of England showing where the Combs arms are recorded
The Combs arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1583.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take arms.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Combs 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Combs Family in England
The surname Combs is a topographical name, which means it was originally given to people based on the landscape where they lived. It is derived from the Old English word "cumb," referring to a deep, narrow valley or a hollow in the hillside. By the late 16th century, the family was well-established in the county of Surrey, England, where records confirm their presence by 1583. During this period, families often took their names from the specific geographical features of their local farms or villages. As the family grew and moved across the region, the spelling of the name evolved into several variations, including Combes and Coombs, though all versions share the same connection to the rugged terrain of the English countryside.
Combs Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
cumb
A valley or hollow in a hillside.
This name
CombsA topographic name for someone who lived in a deep valley or hollow.
also spelled
Combee
Combes
Komb
Combs
Coombes
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Surrey History Centre, Parish Register Transcripts of Surrey, 1583
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