Surname Cobleigh - Meaning and Origin
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Cobleigh: What does the surname Cobleigh mean?
The last name Cobleigh is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word “cob,” which means a kind of bird. It is speculated that the original bearer of the name was someone who worked as a hunter or falconer. The name is also associated with the word “leigh,” which is derived from the Old English term “leah,” meaning a clearing or open space. This could refer to someone who lived in a wooded area or clearing.
The Cobleigh name first appears in English records in the 13th century in the form of “de Coblegh” and “de Coblagh” They can also be found in the 15th century, with examples such as “Agnes Cobligh” in 1450.
The Cobleigh name is associated with a rich and varied history, and it is thought that those who bore it would have been anything from rural labourers to educated professional people. Over the centuries, the Cobleigh name has taken many forms, including Cobleigh, Cobley, Cobelagh, Cobbelyng, Cobble and Cobell.
Today, the Cobleigh name can be found across the globe, with most Cobleighs living in the United States or the United Kingdom. The name is a reminder of a unique and important part of an individual’s ancestry and a reminder of the long history of the Cobleigh family.
Order DNA origin analysisCobleigh: Where does the name Cobleigh come from?
The last name Cobleigh is most commonly found today in the United States. It is origination likely began in the United Kingdom and can alternatively be spelled "Cobley". According to the US Census records, the last name Cobleigh had its highest population in 1840, when it was the 2,609th most common surname in the United States. From there, it has seen a steady decline in prevalence to its current standing as 57,112th most common, with 385 recorded occurrences in 2020.
The largest concentrations of the surname Cobleigh is located in the Massachusetts, with nearly 200 occurrences. There are also significant concentrations in the states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The next largest regions are California, New York, Washington, and Oregon.
The name Cobleigh is most famously remembered for the Joshua Cobleigh house, which was built in 1683 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is considered one of the oldest domestic structures in the country.
The Cobleigh surname may have originated from a place name, with the first known spelling of the name stemming from an individual listed as "Ralph de Cobley" in 1170 in Yorkshire, England. The surname Cobleigh is now considered a relatively uncommon name, but it continues to be used in homage to the cobleighs of the past.
Variations of the surname Cobleigh
The surname Cobleigh is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Some of the variants include: Cobly, Coblee, Cobleegh, Cobblye, Coble, Coblige, and Coblig. Spellings of the surname include: Cobleys, Coblyes, Coblegh, and Cobleghs. Surnames of the same origin include: Cobbe, Coffin, Cobley, Coal, Cole, Colley, Colligh, Colly, Copel, Corley, Cowles, and Corbis.
The surname Cobleigh originated as an occupational surname, referring to a metalworker who created a type of metal called cobleigh or cobleigh ware. Cobleigh is a type of metal which was crafted in medieval times and resembles Arabic brass or German pewter. It was also popularly used for making chalices, wines, and bowls.
The earliest recorded references of variants of the surname Cobleigh can be found in old English court records. For example, a man named Edmund Cobleigh was recorded in 1273, in County Suffolk, England. John Cobleigh was recorded in 1546 in Somerset. And Thomas Cobleigh was recorded between 1537 and 1561 in East Anglia, England.
Cobleigh is still quite a popular surname in Britain, with the surname Cobleigh being recorded in the 1881 British Census. Today, there are numerous people who bear the surname Cobleigh all over the world, from the US, UK, Australia and Canada.
Famous people with the name Cobleigh
- John Cobleigh (1820-1887) was a 19th century American educator, lawyer, and statesman from Massachusetts. He was president of Smith College, and served in the Massachusetts legislature and in the United States Congress.
- Zebulon Reed Cobleigh (1830-1910) was a 19th century American doctor and philanthropist from Vermont. He was a co-founder of the University of Vermont medical school and served as its first dean. He also established hospitals and medical schools in China and was a pioneer of medical education in the Far East.
- Margaret Cobleigh (1888-1979) was an American singer and actress who found success in the early stages of vaudeville and stage theatre.
- John B. Cobleigh (1891-1972) was a 20th century American playwright and director. He is best known for his work on the Broadway show String of Pearls, and for directing the theatrical adaptation of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.
- Walter Cobleigh (1917-1996) was an American Air Force bomber pilot during World War II, and a decorated war hero. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courageous and skillful piloting during bombing missions over enemy territory.
- Frank Cobleigh (1921-2009) was an American football player, who achieved success in both college and professional football. He was a star player on the Ohio State University football team and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1945. He went on to play professionally in both the All-America Football Conference and the National Football League.
- Connie J. Cobleigh (1923-1986) was an American politician and legislator. She served in the legislature of the state of Colorado, and was an advocate for civil rights and human rights. She was the first African American women elected to serve in the Colorado legislature and became the first woman speaker of the house of representatives.
- Arthur Cobleigh (1925-2005) was an American Baptist minister and civil rights activist. He was a leader of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s and was strongly opposed to racism and inequality. He is best known for his leadership of the Freedom Rides protests in 1961.
- Quentin Cobleigh (1925-1999) was an American artist and illustrator. He is best remembered for his intricate and detailed pen and ink drawings of realistic humorous characters. His work appeared in books, films, and comic strips, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential newspaper cartoonists of the 20th century.