A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Coumbe family of England.
Reg. 4419 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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)
“Sa. three lions pass. in pale or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Coumbe Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Coumbe arms are recorded
The Coumbe 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 Coumbe 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 Coumbe Family in England
The family name Coumbe is deeply rooted in the historical landscape of Northern England, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of York as early as 1620. The name is believed to be a variation of the Old English word "cumb," which refers to a small, deep valley or a hollow. During the seventeenth century, families often adopted surnames based on the specific geographical features of the land they inhabited or farmed. By establishing themselves in York during this period, the early members of the Coumbe family were likely part of a growing urban population that supported the city’s vital trade and religious institutions. As the family settled into this historic center, they became part of the social fabric of the region, contributing to the local economy and community life that defined life in post-medieval England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
cumb
A valley or hollow in the landscape.
This name
CoumbeA topographic name for someone who lived in or near a valley.
also spelled
Combe
Related arms
Combevariant spelling
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
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Archives: Parish Registers of York St. Martin-cum-Gregory, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
