Surname Cumberbatch - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cumberbatch: What does the surname Cumberbatch mean?
The surname Cumberbatch is an Anglicized version of the Old Norse name ‘Kumburbjørg’ which translates to ‘meadow fort’. This suggests that it may be a locational surname derived from a place name derived from Old Norse. The Anglo-Saxon meadows, and their Norse counterparts, “kumbur”, were often associated with forts, or “burgs”, and the combination of these two words could've been used to describe the settlement or the fort itself.
As with other Anglo-Saxon surnames, the family name Cumberbatch may have been developed in reference to personal characteristics or virtues. The name may have also been passed down from an ancestor with an impressive physical feature, such as size or strength, as indicated by some of the archaic variants of the name including “Kumburbfall” from which Cumberbatch is derived.
Cumberbatch is an ancient surname borne by Anglo-Saxon families. It dates back as far as the 12th Century, and can be found in the history of England and the British Isles. The surname is likely to have origins in Scandinavia, and can be found as far back as 797 when a “Kumburbjorg” was mentioned in the records of Sweden.
Today, Cumberbatch is a fairly common surname. People with the Cumberbatch name can be found all over the world, from the United Kingdom, to the United States, and Canada. It is also the name of a famous British actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, who has gained a considerable amount of international fame for his work in film and television.
Order DNA origin analysisCumberbatch: Where does the name Cumberbatch come from?
The last name Cumberbatch is most common in the Caribbean islands. It is not as common in the British Isles, although there are a few cases of the surname being found in England, Wales and Scotland.
In the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica, the name is thought to have been introduced by British settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. Reports from genealogy websites link the last name Cumberbatch with people of African or mixed race origin.
In Jamaica, the last name Cumberbatch has been documented in St. Ann, St. James, Portland, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and more recently, in Kingston. Jamaica has the largest population of individuals with the surname Cumberbatch, with Canada having the second largest.
Individuals with the last name Cumberbatch can also be found in the USA, Belize, Suriname and Guyana and the United Kingdom. As the global population increases, so does the global distribution of this last name.
The final resting places of the original Cumberbatch family remain unknown, but their legacy lives on in the strong presence of their surname and its geographical distribution worldwide.
Variations of the surname Cumberbatch
The surname 'Cumberbatch' is derived from an old Anglo-Saxon name from pre 7th century England. The name is made up of two parts and was originally given to someone from Cumberland in England, which was known as 'Cumbra land' in those days. The oldest recorded spelling of the name is Cumbrebatch, which dates from 1301.
Variants of the surname Cumberbatch include Cumbrebatch, Cumbrebroche, Combersbatch, Combrebatch, Cumberbirch, Combirch, Comraatch, Comerbatch, Cumbarsbatch, Combrach, Camberbacher, Cumberbach, Cumberbatch, Cumberbatcht, Cumanbatch, Cumnerbatch, Cumnerbock, Coombersbache, Cumerbache, Cumnerbache, Cumersbatch, Cumerbatch, and Cumbratch.
Common international variants and spellings of the surname include Cumberback (German), Cumber bags (Dutch), Cumberbacker (English), Cumberbos (Polish), Kamberbach (German), Kamberg (Rotarian), Cumberlei (Spanish), Comberbach (Welsh), Cumberbaches (French), Cumberbatu (Slovene), Comberbagh (Irish), and Kumberbese (Italian).
The surname is also occasionally found in different spellings in various countries such as Cumberbaow (Russia), Cumberbuch (Scotland), Cumberboch (Switzerland), Cumberbalk (Denmark), Cumberbic (Portugal), Cumberbeece (Hungary), Cumberboxing (Sweden), Cumberbachi (Israel), Cumberbaort (Austria) and Cumberbait (Croatia).
Other surnames of the same origin include Cumberela, Cumbleson and Cumberbrough.
Famous people with the name Cumberbatch
- Benedict Cumberbatch: Benedict Cumberbatch is a multi-award winning actor, best known for his roles in films such as Sherlock Holmes, The Imitation Game, and Dr. Strange; as well as his leading role in the TV series, Sherlock.
- Martin Cumberbatch: Martin Cumberbatch is Benedict Cumberbatch's father, and a former high court judge.
- Tessa Cumberbatch: Tessa Cumberbatch is Benedict Cumberbatch's mother, and a renowned actress and stage director.
- Edmund Cumberbatch: Edmund Cumberbatch was an interpreted vocalist and orator, and father of Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Simon Cumberbatch: Simon Cumberbatch is a British actor and model, and brother of Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Gregory Cumberbatch: Gregory Cumberbatch is a model, actor, and entrepreneur, and half-brother of Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Adjoa Andoh: Adjoa Andoh is a British film, television and stage actress; she is the maternal cousin of Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Nicholas Cumberbatch: Nicholas Cumberbatch is a British actor and producer, and cousin of Benedict Cumberbatch.
- Robert Cumberbatch: Robert Cumberbatch is a Jamaican-born British entrepreneur, and father of actor Gregory Cumberbatch.
- Binky Cumberbatch: Binky Cumberbatch is a British writer and director, and cousin of Benedict Cumberbatch.