Contents [hide]

Colbert History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Sources

Colbert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Colbert

What does the name Colbert mean?

The ancient name Colbert was first used by the Strathclyde people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The name is derived from an Old English personal name meaning bright champion.

Early Origins of the Colbert family

The surname Colbert was first found in Kirkcudbrightshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Chille Chuithbheirt), part of the present day Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, former county in Southwestern Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. They were descended from Saint Cuthbert of Landisfarne (d. 687) in Northumberland. The name Kirkcudbright literally means "Cuthbert's Church."

"St. Cuthbert, according to the legends of the times, was born of British parents in Cumberland, about the year 600. As Cuthbert advanced in years, he became such a distinguished character, that he was raised to the dignity of abbot in the abbey of Landisferne. Of his miracles and exploits many marvellous tales are recorded; and even after his death his relics are said to have retained miraculous virtues; and to their accidental touch is ascribed the healing power which the holy well in this parish is presumed to possess." 1

Cuthbert (d. 758), was Archbishop of Canterbury, said to have been of noble parentage, first appears as abbot of Liminge in Kent. 2

Early History of the Colbert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Colbert research. Another 140 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1466, 1640, 1778 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Colbert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Colbert Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Colbert has appeared as Cuthbert, Cudbert, Cuthberd, Cudberd, Cuthburst, Cuthburt, Cudburt and many more.

Early Notables of the Colbert family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Charles Colbert de Croissy

Colbert Ranking

In the United States, the name Colbert is the 1,316^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 3 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Colbert is ranked the 632^nd most popular surname with an estimated 72 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Colbert family to Ireland

Some of the Colbert family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Colbert migration to the United States +

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them:

Colbert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Philip Colbert, who arrived in Virginia in 1701-1702 5

Colbert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Colbert, aged 54, who landed in New York in 1812 5
Patrick Colbert, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 5
Mary Colbert, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1849
David Colbert, who settled in New York State in 1849
Michael Colbert, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1854 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Colbert migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Colbert Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

William Colbert, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
Mrs. Ellen Colbert, aged 35 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Agnes" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 6
Mrs. Johanna Colbert, aged 50 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Francis" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 6
Miss. Grace Colbert who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Goliah" departing 21st May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 18th July 1847 but she died on board 7

Colbert migration to Australia +

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

Colbert Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Andrew Colbert, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Benjamin Colbert, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Britannia" in 1846 9
Thomas Colbert, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1846 10
Michael Colbert, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1846 10
Edmund Colbert, aged 36, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Isle of Thanet" 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Colbert (post 1700) +

Stephen Tyrone Colbert (b. 1964), American five-time Primetime Emmy Award winning political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor, best known as the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report
Elizabeth Jean Colbert (b. 1919), American private in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, first all-female, all-African-American battalion to server overseas
Nathan Colbert Jr. (1946-2023), American Major League Baseball first baseman (1966-1976), and coach, inductee of the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame
Robert Colbert (b. 1931), American actor, best known for his role as Dr. Doug Phillips on the ABC television series The Time Tunnel
Claudette Colbert (1903-1996), American Academy Award winning and two-time Academy Award nominated stage and film actress; she was the industry's highest-paid star in 1938 and 1942
Tom Colbert (b. 1949), American Justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court
Richard Gary Colbert (1915-1973), American four-star admiral in the United States Navy
Craig Charles Colbert (b. 1965), former American Major League Baseball catcher
Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert (b. 1982), professional American football player
James Joseph Colbert (b. 1941), American professional golfer
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Colbert family +

Halifax Explosion

Ms. Hattie Colbert (1824-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 12

RMS Lusitania

Mr. William F. Colbert, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 13
Mrs. Helena M. Colbert, (née Sherlock), American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 13

RMS Titanic

Mr. Patrick Colbert (d. 1912), aged 24, Irish Third Class passenger from Kilkinlea, Limerick who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 14

The Colbert Motto +

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: Nec minus fortiter
Motto Translation: Not less bravely.

Sources +

Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 19)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 69)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITANNIA 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Britannia.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Canton.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 25th October 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Isle of Thanet 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/isleofthanet1854.shtml
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html