Surname Combach - Meaning and Origin

Combach: What does the surname Combach mean?

The last name Combach is a German surname of locational origin, derived from several places in Germany that bear the name. The old German spelling of the name is Kombach, and it is derived from the German word “kamm,” meaning brushwood or other low-growing vegetation.

The earliest recorded use of the name Combach is found in documents from the late Middle Ages in the German states of Bavaria and Westphalia. The name Combach was used most commonly as an occupational name to denote a person who worked in clearing vegetation such as brushwood, a typical task for settlers in the region.

The Combach surname was also used to denote a person who lived near a brushwood patch, as well as someone involved in the trade or harvesting of brushwood. In some cases, it was also used to describe a tenant farmer who worked on an estate or manor.

In modern times, the name Combach survives as a surname of German descent, primarily found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States of America. As with surnames of this type, Combach can be a source of pride to its descendants, connecting them to a rich history and culture.

Combach: Where does the name Combach come from?

The last name Combach is a rare surname, which does not appear within the top 100,000 surnames according to the US Census. A search of The Geneanet website shows only 43 occurrences of this last name.

Today, the last name Combach is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in Northern Germany. According to the Austrian Census of that year, the name Combach was borne by only 200 individuals out of a population of 4 million citizens.

Its prevalence in other countries is difficult to ascertain as the name is so rare, however it is known to be borne by fewer than 5 individuals in the United States, according to the US Census.

Location-wise, the last name Combach is most widespread in Mainz, a city located in the north western German state of Rhineland Palatinate. In Mainz, the name Combach is borne by around 30 individuals which is most likely a result of both immigration and intermarriages between German and other Combach families.

In summary, the last name Combach is difficult to define in terms of its present distribution as it is a rare surname that is present in only handful of countries. The last name is mostly found in Mainz which is located in the north western region of Germany and is borne by around 30 individuals. In the United States, the last name Combach is present in only five individuals according to the US Census.

Variations of the surname Combach

The surname Combach has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of similar, though not identical, origin, including Combach, Coombach, Coombe, Coombes, Coombs, Comb, Combe, Combes, Cumbes, Coombachs, Combs, Coomack, Coombeach, Comack, Combech, Coomach, Coomback, Cumbach, Cumbachs, Cumber, Cumberson, Coemack, Coombanks, Combos, Coombachs, Combacker, Comback, Combackes, and Combechs.

Combach is most likely an English and Scottish topographic surname derived from the Old English word “cumb” meaning valley or valley bottom. It may have been taken on as a locational name by people who originally came from the area of Combach in Lincolnshire or Combe in Oxfordshire. The Combe spelling is more common in England, while the Coombes spelling is more prevalent in Scotland.

The Cumbes variant could be an alternate spelling of Cumbe, the Yorkshire place name, although it is more likely to be an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic surname “MacCombe”, which originates from the personal name “Combalach”, meaning “a chosen one” or “a leader”. The Combe spelling has a different origin, deriving from the personal name “Cuimbe”.

The Coombach variant was also adopted as a family name by people who originally hailed from Combe in Oxfordshire. The Coombe spelling is also likely to be a variant spelling of Coombach, or it may refer to one of the various places called Coombe in Somerset, Devon and Surrey. The Cumbes spelling may refer to those who belonged to the old Cumbes family of Holme, in East Yorkshire.

Famous people with the name Combach

• Axel Combech, a former German football player who played mainly as a defender.
• Hans Combach, a German writer of mysteries and children's books.
• Ingo Combach, a German professional basketball player who had brief stints with several teams in the German Basketball League.
• Frank Combach, a former German footballer who mainly played as a midfielder.
• Kristen Combach, an American actress best known for roles in the films "She's All That", "Not Another Teen Movie" and "The Princess Diaries".
• John Combach, an English writer of books and short stories in the late 19th century.
• Martha Combach, a French opera singer of the early 19th century.
• Peter Combach, a German painter and draftsman of the Baroque period.
• Bob Combach, a former American football player who had a brief career as an offensive tackle.
• Mark Combach, an Australian professional surfer who was a competitor on the World Surfing Tour.

Other surnames

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