Map of England showing where the Coombs arms are recorded
The Coombs arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried 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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Coombs 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 England.
Origin & History of the Coombs Family in England
The surname Coombs is topographical in origin, meaning it was originally used to describe the landscape where a family lived. It is derived from the Old English word "cumb," which refers to a small, deep valley or a hollow in the hillside. By the early 17th century, the name had become well-established in England, including in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Coombs family were present in York by 1620, likely living near the rolling terrain that gave the name its meaning. As these individuals moved through the region, the name evolved in spelling, but it remained tied to the geography of the English countryside. This connection to the land suggests that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or laborers who were identified by the specific valley they called home.
Coombs Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
cumb
A British Celtic word meaning a deep valley or hollow.
This name
CoombsA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Coombs
Combs
Comb
Combe
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
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
saltireResolution, and St Andrew's cross
