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![Show Contents]() Comyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of ComynWhat does the name Comyn mean? It is generally believed that this name comes from a Breton personal name, derived from element "cam," meaning "bent," or "crooked;" or perhaps from the herb called "cummin" (cumin). Or the name may have come from the place name Comines, in Flanders, Northern France. 1 "This ancient family claim descent from the great house of Comines in France. They seem to have come into Britain at the Conquest, though they do not appear eo nomine in Domesday. " 2 Early Origins of the Comyn familyThe surname Comyn was first found in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire in England, in the 12th and 13th centuries. Robert of Comyn (Comines,) a noble who accompanied William the Conqueror in 1066 and was made Earl of Northumberland. 3 Other early records of the family shown with a myriad of early spellings include: Godwinus filius Cumine in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1173; Eustachius filius Cumini in the Assize Rolls for Lincolnshire in 1219; Petrus filius Kymine in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1301; Hugh Coumini listed in France in 1157; Walter Cumin in the Pipe Rolls for Wales in 1158; John Comin in Lincolnshire in 1175-1179; and William Cumyn in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire in 1230. 4 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Florentina Comin, Oxfordshire; Peter Comyn, Wiltshire; Stephen Comyng, Essex; and Thomas Comyn, Gloucestershire. 5 Another source notes that Admund le Comyn was listed in Norfolk, 14 Edward II (during the fourteenth year of King Edward III's reign.) 6 Today Commins is a small hamlet in Denbighshire and Commins Coch is a small village in the county of Powys, Wales. Saint Comman of Ross-Commain (fl. 550), was son of Faelchu and "descendant of Fiacha Araidhe, of the family of Rudhraighe, and race of Ir, king of Ulster, A.D. 236." 7 Early History of the Comyn familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Comyn research. Another 487 words (35 lines of text) covering the years 1124, 1133, 1153, 1289, 1296, 1302, 1306, 1667, 1688, 1690, 1696, 1714, 1729, 1730, 1740, 1747, 1751, 1775, 1833, 1835, 1844, 1849, 1851, 1867, 1870, 1875, 1876 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Comyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Comyn Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Cumin, Cumins, Cumine, Cummin, Cummins, Cummine, Comings, Comins, Commin and many more. Early Notables of the Comyn familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was - Alexander Comyn (d. 1289), Earl of Buchan, a Scotish-Norman nobleman, son of William Comyn and Marjory, Countess of Buchan, the heiress of the last native Scottish Mormaer of Buchan, Fergus; and Sir J...
- Valens Comyn (1688-1751) was an English merchant, administrator and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1747 to 1751
Migration of the Comyn family to IrelandSome of the Comyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Comyn migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Comyn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Thomas Comyn, who settled in Florida in 1769
- Frederick Duke Comyn, who arrived in Florida in 1778
| Contemporary Notables of the name Comyn (post 1700) | + |
- William Leslie Comyn (b. 1877), American businessman, shipbuilder and builder of one of the first large concrete ships, direct descendant of Stephen George Comyn
- Stephen George Comyn (1764-1839), English naval chaplain who served with Lord Nelson at the Battle of the Nile and Battle of Copenhagen, said to be Nelson's favourite chaplain
- Andrew Comyn (b. 1968), English former professional footballer from Wakefield, England who played from 1989 to 1996
- Henry Hugh Comyn (1876-1937), English civil servant and sportsman, badminton mixed doubles champion in 1908, 1909 and 1910
- Andrew Daniel "Dan" Comyn (1872-1949), Irish cricketer from County Galway, who played for Ireland 16 times between 1893 and 1904
- John Francis Comyn (1742-1793), French aristocrat of French birth guillotined during the French Revolution
- Nicholas Comyn Gatty (1874-1946), English composer and music critic, a close friend of Ralph Vaughan Williams
- Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall (1835-1911), British civil servant, literary historian and poet
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Courage
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
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