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

Coombs, 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 Coombs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coombs in America

Coombs is the 3631st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coombs surname appeared 9,780 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Coombs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coombs 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 Coombs

The surname Coombs has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cumb," meaning a small valley or hollow between hills. This name likely originated as a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near or in such a geographical feature.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where it is spelled "Combe." Over time, various spellings emerged, including Coombes, Combes, and the modern form, Coombs. These variations reflect the regional dialects and phonetic interpretations of the name.

One notable historical reference is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which records several places with names derived from "cumb," such as Combe in Somerset and Coombes in Sussex. These place names suggest that the surname may have originated from people associated with those locations.

The earliest recorded bearer of the surname Coombs was John Combe, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332. Another early example is William Coombes, mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1379.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Coombs. One prominent figure was William Coombs (1647-1724), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1687. Another was Anthony Coombs (1742-1827), a British naval officer who participated in the American Revolutionary War and later became an admiral.

In the literary world, John Coombs (1767-1832) was an English poet and writer known for his works on rural life and natural history. James Coombs (1832-1899) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the National Liberal Club.

One of the earliest recorded Coombs settlers in America was Walter Coombs, who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635. His descendants later established themselves in various parts of New England and played roles in the American Revolutionary War and the development of the young nation.

While the surname Coombs has its roots in England, it has since spread across the globe, with notable bearers in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name continues to hold a rich historical legacy, reflecting its origins in the geographic features of the English landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coombs

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

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 Coombs 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 Coombs 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 Coombs was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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