Find out how popular the last name Combe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Combe.

Combe, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Combe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Combe in America

Combe is the 30825th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Combe surname appeared 755 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Combe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Combe to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Combe

The surname COMBE originated in England and France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "cumb" and the Old French word "combe," both meaning a small valley or a hollow between hills. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 11th century in various parts of England and Normandy, France.

In England, the name COMBE is believed to have been initially used as a territorial surname, referring to individuals who resided in or near such valleys or hollows. One of the earliest documented occurrences of this surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "de Combe." This suggests that the name was likely adopted by those living in or near a place called Combe.

One notable historical figure with the surname COMBE was John Combe (c. 1506 – 1610), an English landowner and businessman from Stratford-upon-Avon. He is famously known for his association with William Shakespeare, who is believed to have been a tenant of Combe's property. Combe's wealth and status allowed him to become a prominent figure in Stratford-upon-Avon during his lifetime.

In France, the surname COMBE can be traced back to the region of Normandy, where it was likely derived from various place names containing the word "combe." For instance, the village of Combs-la-Ville in the Île-de-France region was historically known as "Combe-la-Ville," and it is possible that the surname COMBE originated from this or similar place names.

Another notable individual with the surname COMBE was Andrew Combe (1797 – 1847), a Scottish physician and phrenologist who wrote extensively on the relationship between the mind and the brain. His works, such as "The Principles of Physiology Applied to the Preservation of Health" and "The Constitution of Man," were widely read and influenced the development of phrenology and the study of the mind.

Other historical figures with the surname COMBE include:

1. William Combe (1742 – 1823), an English writer and satirist best known for his humorous tours and letters.
2. George Combe (1788 – 1858), a Scottish lawyer and one of the most prominent advocates of phrenology in the early 19th century.
3. Achille Combe (1837 – 1923), a French sculptor and medalist who created numerous public monuments and sculptures.
4. Ignacio Combe (1912 – 1977), a Spanish painter and ceramist known for his abstract and cubist works.

While the surname COMBE has its origins in England and France, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. However, its historical roots can be traced back to the medieval period and its association with particular geographic locations and place names.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Combe

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Combe.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Combe was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Combe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Combe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Combe, please contact us.

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