Cobbett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cobbett

What does the name Cobbett mean?

The earliest origins of the name Cobbett date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the personal name Jacob. The surname Cobbett is derived from Cob, which is a pet form of the name Jacob, and is supplemented by the common diminutive suffix -et. Some experts state that the surname Cobbett is a nickname derived from the Old English word cubit, which means elbow. One expert is dumbfounded: "I cannot explain the somewhat common and well-known surname, unless it be a diminutive or corruption of a personal name. " 1

Early Origins of the Cobbett family

The surname Cobbett was first found in Norfolk, where Geoffrey Cobet and Roger Cobet were both listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. 2

Early History of the Cobbett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cobbett research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1400 and 1566 are included under the topic Early Cobbett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cobbett Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Cobbett include Cubitt, Cowbitt, Cobbett, Cubyt, Cubbert, Cubit and many more.

Early Notables of the Cobbett family

More information is included under the topic Early Cobbett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cobbett migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Cobbett or a variant listed above:

Cobbett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. Cobbett, British settler from Berkshire, who sailed from Isle of Wight arriving in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 3
James Cobbett, aged 23, who arrived in New England in 1635 4
Josias Cobbett, aged 21, who landed in New England in 1635 4
Mr. James Cobbett, (b. 1612), aged 23, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 5
Mr. Josias Cobbett, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cobbett migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cobbett Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mary Cobbett, aged 30, a cook, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Oriental,"

Cobbett migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cobbett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

H Cobbett, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842

Contemporary Notables of the name Cobbett (post 1700) +

James Cobbett (1804-1842), English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1826 to 1841
William Cobbett (1763-1835), English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist who was found guilty of treasonous libel on 15 June 1810 after objecting to a flogging at Ely; his sons founded Cobbett, Wheeler and Cobbett which is now called Cobbetts LLP with 325 lawyers
John Cobbett (b. 1929), Scottish sculptor, best known for his three works for Sir Edward Maufe's Guildford Cathedral
William Pitt Cobbett (1853-1919), Australian academic, jurist, editor and founding Challis Chair of Law of the University of Sydney Faculty of Law
Walter Willson Cobbett CBE (1847-1937), British businessman, violinist and editor/author of Cobbett's Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 24th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm