Surname Cumberbirch - Meaning and Origin
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Cumberbirch: What does the surname Cumberbirch mean?
The last name Cumberbirch is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an example of a topographical name. Such names were originally given to a person who lived on, or near, a ridge of birch trees. The surname Cumberbirch is derived from the Old English pre-7th century words 'cumb', which means a deep or steep valley, and 'birce', which means birch trees. Therefore, the name Cumberbirch describes a "steep valley of birch trees".
The surname Cumberbirch first began to appear in records in the 11th century, with early bearers of the name including Robert Cumberbirch (1150, Cambridgeshire) and Robert de Cumberbirch (1250, Suffolk).
Two particular places that may have been the origins of the Cumberbirch surname include Cumfreebirch in Devon and Cumberbirch in Cheshire. As well as being a common surname in Britain, it is also found in parts of the United States and Canada, where it was carried by immigrants from the British Isles.
In summary, the last name Cumberbirch is derived from the Old English words 'cumb' and 'birce', and first began to appear in records in the 11th century. The name likely originated from either the Devon village of Cumfreebirch or the Cheshire village of Cumberbirch. Today it is common in Britain, as well as parts of the United States and Canada, where it was carried by immigrants from the British Isles.
Order DNA origin analysisCumberbirch: Where does the name Cumberbirch come from?
The Cumberbirch surname is most commonly found in the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom (UK). Historically, the Cumberbirch surname was found in Cumbria, in the north west of England. Records from the 15th century show a number of people bearing the name in Cumbria, Dumfriesshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland.
The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency in the Irish Sea, with a population of roughly 85,000. Historically, the Isle of Man has been a centre of Norse influence, and it has been suggested that the surname Cumberbirch is derived from the Vikings who settled in the area during the early 10th century.
In later centuries, the Cumberbirch surname spread to other parts of the UK. The 1881 UK census shows that the Cumberbirch name was scattered throughout England, Wales, and Scotland, with a prevalence in Cheshire, Shropshire, Lancashire, and in Edinburgh, Scotland.
More recently, records from the 1911 UK census suggest that the name is most commonly found in the Isle of Man, Lancashire, Cheshire, and Shropshire. Today, searches of ancestry websites, such as Ancestry.co.uk and findmypast.co.uk list a number of people across the UK bearing the Cumberbirch surname.
Variations of the surname Cumberbirch
The Cumberbirch surname is a relatively uncommon surname of English origin. It is believed to have been a habitational name derived from the village of Cumberbirch near Cranleigh, Surrey in England. The variants of the surname Cumberbirch include Cumberbirch, Cumberburch, Cumberberch, Cumberberge, and Cumberburche.
Spellings of the surname Cumberbirch can also vary, with a variety of spellings known including Cumberbetch, Cumberbitch, Comberbirch, Cumberbishe, Cumberlych, and Cumbirch.
Surnames of the same origin as Cumberbirch include Umbel, Umpleby, Umplebee, Umplebirch and Umpelby. In various regions of England, it is common to see the Cumberbirch surname written differently or corrupted over time: Comberbirch, Comberburch, Cumbebirch, Coomberbirch, Coombirch, Comberbich, Combreberge, and Cumbirch, for example.
It is not uncommon to find the Cumberbirch surname associated with other geographical areas, likely due to emigration and family relocation.
In addition, it’s also possible to find a spelling variation of the Cumberbirch surname in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is spelled Cumberbache in the area and it is believed to be a variant of Cumberbirch.
Overall, Cumberbirch is a relatively uncommon surname that has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Over the years, the name may have undergone alterations to form various variations of the name.
Famous people with the name Cumberbirch
- Jennifer Cumberbirch: Canadian actress, known for roles in Christmas Inheritance and The Order.
- Mandy Cumberbirch: British Award-winning singer-songwriter.
- Susanna Cumberbirch: British actress and game show presenter.
- Stephen Cumberbirch: English footballer who played for Hartlepool United and represented England at Under-19 level.
- Robert Cumberbirch: Professional tennis player, winner of the Wimbledon junior men's doubles title in 2009.
- Paul Cumberbirch: Prominent British businessman, CEO of Cumberbirch Textiles.
- Andrew Cumberbirch: American stage actor, performing frequently at The Palace Theatre in London.
- Fred Cumberbirch: Canadian poet, contributing author to the book of Voices of War: Poetry from World War II.
- Mike Cumberbirch: Award-winning film director and producer, crafting indie films such as My War.
- Jonathan Cumberbirch: British author and critic, writing columns for The Observer.