Surname Comely - Meaning and Origin

Comely: What does the surname Comely mean?

The last name Comely is of Anglo-Saxon origin and dates back to ancient times. The word "comely" itself means pleasing in appearance, attractive or fair. It was commonly used as an adjective in Old English to describe someone who is good-looking or beautiful. As a surname, Comely could have possibly used to refer to someone who was noted for their attractive shape, pleasant demeanor, or lovely appearance. It is possible that the name's original bearer was a person who was recognized due to these physical traits. However, being an ancient name, pinning down the precise origin can be quite challenging as record keeping was not as meticulous or standardized as it is now. Despite these challenges, one can conclude that the surname Comely has a connection to beauty, fairness, and attractiveness.

Comely: Where does the name Comely come from?

The surname Comely originates from Britain and it is believed to have derived from old English terms "cumb" and "leah" which represent a valley and a woodland clearing respectively. Hence, it is often seen as a topographic name for a person who resided in a valley. It is also believed to be a locational term derived from 'Combley', a place in the Isle of Wight. Various spelling forms of the surname include Combley, Comley, Cumbley, and Combie, among others.

Records of the Comely surname can be traced back to the 13th century in Worcestershire, England. By the 16th century, the name spread to other regions like Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Today, Comely is not a very common surname and is most prevalent in the United States, followed by England. According to Forebears.io, the surname ranks 144,088 in terms of the most common surnames in the world, indicating it is quite rare. The U.S. census data indicates a higher concentration of individuals with the Comely surname can be found in Texas and California. Additionally, few individuals with the Comely surname are also found in Australia, Canada, and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Comely

The surname Comely originates from the English language and is said to be of occupational origin. Its variants and similar spellings can include Comley, Comly, and Coomley.

It could possibly also be connected to or confused with the name Combs, as it has similar phonetics and is also of English origin. Other related forms of Combs could be Coombs or Coombes.

In some cases, it might be confused with or related to the surnames Comer and Comber, as they have similar spellings and phonetics, but their meanings and origins are different.

However, it should be noted that variations and changes in surnames can largely be attributed to an individual interpreter's phonetic spelling during the instances of recording names in the medieval age. Many names were recorded as they sounded to the scribe, leading to multiple variations over time. That's why the same surname could be recorded differently in different documents.

As a result, there might be other variants or spellings of the surname Comely that are not identified here as they evolved and adapted in different regions and eras.

Famous people with the name Comely

• Richard Comely: A celebrated Canadian comic book artist, writer, and illustrator, Richard Comely is best known as the creator of the popular comic book character, Captain Canuck. His work has received accolades for its unique contribution to the Canadian cultural landscape.
• Fred Comely: A well-known English cricketer who played first-class cricket in the late 19th century. He was involved in 26 matches for Sussex and his career spanned over a period of several years, making him a significant figure in Sussex cricket during that era.
• Neile Comely: She worked for Macmillan Caribbean as an editor for educational books. Her contribution to the academic literature in the Caribbean education sector is commendable. Please note that 'Comely' as a surname is not very common, hence the scarcity of famous people with this name.

Other surnames

Comello