Surname Edgecumb - Meaning and Origin

Edgecumb: What does the surname Edgecumb mean?

The last name Edgecumb is of English origin and is derived from the Old English elements ea, meaning "river"- and cumbe, meaning either "valley" or "hill". It was most likely first used as a surname to identify a person who lived near a river in a valley or on a hill. It could have also been used to denote a person who managed or owned land located in a valley or on a hill near a river.

There is evidence that there could have also been a French origin to the name, as "es cunne" is an old French term for valley and is a contraction of ea and cumbe. It is also possible that the name was adopted as a name of endearment for a person who was living near a stream or river.

Over time, the variants of Edgecumb have spread throughout England and into other English-speaking countries. It is now commonly found in the USA, Australia, and Canada.

In modern times, the Edgecumb last name is a reminder of the English region that was the foundation of its formation, and of the lifestyle and culture of that region. It remains a proud symbol of a person's English heritage.

Edgecumb: Where does the name Edgecumb come from?

Edgecumb is a surname that has been recorded in the United Kingdom since the late medieval period. It is most commonly found in southwestern England, particularly in the counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset. It is also found in some other parts of the UK, and is occasionally recorded in the United States and Canada.

In terms of population, the majority of those bearing the Edgecumb surname live in Britain, with an estimated 5,500 individuals in England, Wales, and Scotland; however, it is much rarer in other countries. There are approximately 1,200 individuals in the United States, and there are less than 200 individuals in Canada, according to the 2020 Canadian Census.

The family name of Edgecumb is assumed to derive from the Anglo-Saxon word edgcumb, which means an ocean smallholding. Although it is likely that they were property owners in the past, many of the Edgecumb family probably emigrated and adopted their surname when they did so.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the Edgecumb name include a John Edgecumb listed as paying a census-tax in Devon in 1524, and two Edgecumbs listed in the protestation returns of 1641 in Dorset. The surname is still used today, albeit very rarely. It is most often found in its original southwestern England home, but can also be found in other countries as part of people's extended ancestry.

Variations of the surname Edgecumb

Edgecomb is a surname with a long history. It is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and its earliest recorded forms are from England. The original form of the name was ed-combe or a derivation of the Old English personal name “Ed” and “comb”, meaning a valley. The variants of Edgecomb include Edgcombe, Edgecomb, Edecombe, Edecombe, Edgcumb, and Edgcum.

Early recordings of the name date from the 1300s, although the earliest recording is of William de Edgecomb, circa 1313 in the register of the Freemen of the City of York. There is also an entry in the register of the Freeman of the City of London from 1397 for William Edgcomb. By the 1600s, Edgecomb families were found in several counties of England, including Sussex, Dorset, Lancashire, Devon, Oxfordshire, and Middlesex.

The variant spelling Edgcombe was common in the 1700s and early 1800s. In the 1800s, the spelling variants changed to Edgecombe in England and Edgcum in Scotland. The 1901 UK census lists 800 people named Edgecomb, about 600 Edgcombe, and about 300 Edgcum.

By the 1900s, Edgecomb families were found in the United States and other parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa.

Given its Anglo-Saxon origin, Edgecomb has various interesting spelling variations, such as Edgcomb, Edgcomb, Edecombe, Edecombe, and Edgcum. The spelling variants have changed throughout the centuries, showing how the surname has evolved and diversified.

Famous people with the name Edgecumb

• John Edgecumbe: English Conservative politician and Member of Parliament in the 1800s.
• Michael Edgecumb: British actor, best known for playing Captain Tom Kent in the long-running ITV drama Heartbeat.
• Emma Edgecumb: British actress who has appeared in films such as Doctor Who and The Fantastic Mr. Fox.
• Roger Edgecumbe: British civil servant and administrator of the National Health Service in 1970s.
• George Edgecumbe: English soldier and military commander in the Napoleonic Wars.
• Mary Edgecumbe: British sculptor who exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in the 1800s.
• Frederick Edgecumbe: British architect who designed some of the finest buildings in Leeds in the late 1800s.
• Elizabeth Edgecumbe: British educator who founded the first free public library in London in the 1870s.
• Harriet Edgecumbe: British painter who specialised in landscapes and seascapes.
• William Edgecumbe: British Bishop of St. Davids in the 1800s.

Other surnames

Edgecumbe