Surname Cumbsty - Meaning and Origin

Cumbsty: What does the surname Cumbsty mean?

The last name Cumbsty is an English name that has various regional spellings. Its origin is uncertain, but some think it dates back to the Norman Invasion of 1066. It is believed that the name is derived from the Old English cum, meaning “valley” or “hill”, and stig, meaning “path” or “wood”. This suggests that the original holder of the name owned or lived on land with a path or wood nestled in a valley or hill.

The name may also be connected to the Anglo-Saxon given name Cymbeline, which possibly means “king” or “royal”. In this case, the holder of the name would be seen as part of a noble family.

The current spelling of Cumbsty first appears in records from the 15th century in various parts of England, including Hampshire, Sussex, and Somerset. Records show that the surname was in existence in London from the late 16th century.

Cumbsty is an uncommon name today, but it still appears in various regions of the United Kingdom as well as in the US. People with this name tend to be hardworking, independent, and reliable, and they often take great pride in their ancestry and family name.

Cumbsty: Where does the name Cumbsty come from?

The last name Cumbsty is most commonly found in the United States, with the highest concentrations recorded in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and California. The origin of this name is Scottish, a variant of Cumming, and the earliest records of Cumbsty families in America trace back to the late 18th century.

The majority of current Cumbsty families living in America are located in Pennsylvania, where there are over 800 entries in the U.S. census of 2020. Other states to currently have substantial populations of Cumbsty include New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and California. Smaller numbers of Cumbstys can also be found in other states, including Illinois, Colorado, and Georgia. Of note, the Cumbsty population is increasing in both Pennsylvania and New York, which may indicate a population shift to the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions.

Outside of the United States, limited records of Cumbstys can be found in England and Scotland. It is likely the number of families with the name Cumbsty has dwindled over time due to the variety of spelling variants, such as Cumming or Cummings, which are more popular today.

In total, the last name Cumbsty is currently found in the United States and in certain countries in the British Isles, with the highest concentration of families residing in the states on the east coast.

Variations of the surname Cumbsty

The Cumbsty surname has several variant spellings, mostly dependent upon the time period and geographical location in which it was used. Variations include: Cambisty, Cumbersy, Cumbisty, Kumbstan, Kumstan, Kumstey and Cumberstown.

The Cumbsty surname is derived from the Old English words cumb (meaning valley) and stig (meaning path). The name is believed to have been topographical, identifying someone who lived in a valley or along a path.

The Cumbsty surname is linked to an area of Norfolk, England called Cumbsty. This location was formerly known as Cambestoe (Cumber's Path) in the 13th century and is still occasionally referred to as Kamstan or Camstig today.

Variations of Cumbsty have also been found in Scotland including Cumbstane, Cumbersburgh, Cumberston and Cumbstonshire. This surname can also be found as Cambestany in the Spanish language.

Additional spelling variations of Cumbsty are Cumberson, Cumbrey, Cumford, Cummers, Combarsty, Combesty, and Cumberbund. It can also be anglicized to Cummings.

Overall the Cumbsty surname is an excellent example of how surnames are affected by the passage of time and the dynamics of language, in particular the presence and evolution of dialects, accent, and pronunciation.

Famous people with the name Cumbsty

• Richard Cumberbatch: British academic, human rights defender and politician.
• Graham Cumbsty: British footballer.
• Stephen Cumberbatch: English clergyman and academic.
• Sir Philip Cumberbatch: English Royal Navy officer.
• Prudence Cumberbatch: American-British stage actress, activist and animal welfare campaigner.
• Dennis Cumberbatch: Barbadian folk musician.
• John Cumberbatch: British-Jamaican painter.
• Stephen Cumberbatch: Professional rugby league footballer
• Leonard Cumbsty: Professional cricketer
• Thomas Cumbsty: British World War I and World War II soldier

Other surnames

Cumbsy