Surname Edgecombe - Meaning and Origin

Edgecombe: What does the surname Edgecombe mean?

The last name Edgecombe is an English name of Anglo-Saxon origin. Although the exact origin of the name is unknown, Edgecombe is likely derived from a place name, either Edgecomb in Devon or Edgecumbe in Cornwall, both of which are change to the Old English elements eage (a corner or edge) and cumb (a valley). The name may also have originated from the village of Edgcombe in the county of Staffordshire.

In the Middle Ages, Edgecombe would have been used as a distinguishing mark to identify families living in and around one of the areas that originally bore the name. As family names became more popular in the 11th and 12th centuries, the use of Edgecombe was likely more widespread as larger numbers of people moved from the surrounding area into the nearby village.

It is also possible that Edgecombe could be derived from Old English or Middle English 'ecce' or 'ecche' which are both related to the word 'edge'. Old English and Middle English ecce and ecche both describe a cliff, ridge or edge. The name may have been used to describe people who were associated with these areas, living close to steep drops or cliffs.

The Edgecombe surname is fairly common, found in many cultures all over the world and is still used in some parts of the United Kingdom. Families with this surname are believed to be of English origin and may have originally appeared in Cornwall, Devon or Staffordshire.

Edgecombe: Where does the name Edgecombe come from?

The Edgecombe surname is most commonly associated with the UK and British Commonwealth countries, particularly the Caribbean regions. It is believed to derive from the English county of Northamptonshire in the southeast of England, and migrated with British colonists to the Caribbean. It is particularly prevalent in Jamaica, where it is the fifth most common name. It is also common in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In the United States, the Edgecombe surname is less common, but is still present in several states including Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and California. One of the earliest Edgecombes to settle in Colonial America was Samuel Edgecombe who immigrated to Delaware from England in 1682.

In the early 21st century, Edgecombe is still a relatively common surname in England, with concentrations in Northamptonshire, Wiltshires, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire. As of the last census in 2011, there were over 700 Edgecombes in the UK.

Overall, the Edgecombe surname has been documented throughout the world during the last several centuries. Although the name has more frequency in the Caribbean, it can still be found in many places where British civilians and immigrants settled.

Variations of the surname Edgecombe

Edgecombe is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English word edecumbe, meaning “edge of a comb”, making it an occupational name for someone who worked with combs, such as a comb maker or a hairdresser. It is also thought to refer to someone who lived at the edge of a comb of land.

The variant spellings and different surnames of Edgecombe include Edgcombe, Edgcumbe, Edgecomb, Edgecoombe, Edgcombe, Edgeham, Edgcomb, and Edgecumbe.

The variants spelling of Edgecombe might have appeared due to an incorrect spelling while recording names or when the current spelling of a word has changed over time or when names have been anglicised. For example, when the Normans invaded and replaced Old English words with French, hence Edgcombe, which is derived from the French word edgcomb.

A variety of surnames derived from Edgecombe also exist, such as Edgcombe-Thompson, Edgcumbe-Smith, Edgecomb-Brown and Edgecumbe-Green. These variations may have occurred when the surname was passed from generation to generation within a family, with each generation taking on a slight change. Such changes are often made to distinguish different branches of a family.

Edgecombe is also a place name. Edgecombe in Devon, England was once a manor and is first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. It takes its name from the nearby hill named Edmunds Comb Hill, which is thought to be a corruption of Edgecombe Hill.

Famous people with the name Edgecombe

• Rodney Edgecombe: actor most famous for his appearances in The House Bunny (2008), Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012), and NCIS (2013-2015).
• Keeso Floyd Edgecombe: businessman and former coach of The Miami Dolphins in 1971-1972.
• Steve Edgecombe: professional rugby player who played for Wests in 1974-1975.
• Alan Edgecombe: British actor and singer-songwriter, known for his roles in The Great Escape (1963), The Longest Day (1962) and Sahara (1943).
• Zachary Edgecombe: British television producer and executive.
• Johanna Edgcombe: British actress who appeared in the films Death at a Funeral (2010) and Dunkirk (2017).
• Simon Edgecombe: English concert percussionist and educator.
• Scott Edgecombe: Canadian professional snowboarder.
• Alfred Edgecombe: World War II Royal Air Force Flying Officer.
• Kenji Edgecombe: Japanese photographer.

Other surnames

Edgecomb