Cumberbatch History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cumberbatch

What does the name Cumberbatch mean?

Cumberbatch is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cumberbatch family lived in Cheshire, where they held the title of Lords of the Manor of Comberbach, in the parish of Great Budeworth. 1

Early Origins of the Cumberbatch family

The surname Cumberbatch was first found in Cheshire at Comberbach, a civil parish and small village that dates back to the 12th century when it was listed as Combrebeche. 2 The place name literally means "valley or stream on the Britons or of a man called Cumbra," from the Old English "Cumbre," + "bece." 3 The family held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Comberbach in the parish of Great Budeworth.

A search through early Cheshire Records showed Roger Comberbach, of Wych Malbank, 1603; and Richard Cumberbach, of Congleton, 1633. 1

Early History of the Cumberbatch family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cumberbatch research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1603, 1739, 1795 and 1866 are included under the topic Early Cumberbatch History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cumberbatch Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Cumberbatch family name include Comberbach, Comberbirch, Commerback, Comeback, Comberback, Cumberbatch, Cumberback, Cumberpatch, Cumberbeach, Cumberbirch, Comberbirch, Comberpatch, Comberbeach and many more.

Early Notables of the Cumberbatch family

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

Cumberbatch Ranking

In the United States, the name Cumberbatch is the 10,107^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Cumberbatch family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Cumberbatch family to immigrate North America: Thomas Comberbach who arrived in New England in 1635.

Contemporary Notables of the name Cumberbatch (post 1700) +

Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch CBE (b. 1976), English BAFTA, Primetime Emmy and Laurence Olivier Award winning actor, known for his roles in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013), War Horse (2011), Sherlock (2010-2016), and Dr. Stephen Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Dorann Cumberbatch, American contestant for American Gladiators (1991)
Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch (b. 1939), English actor, father of Benedict Cumberbatch
Robert William Cumberbatch (1821-1876), British diplomat who held the post of Consul in the Russian and Ottoman Empires, great-great-grandfather of Benedict Cumberbatch
Henry Alfred Cumberbatch CMG (1858-1918), British diplomat who served as a consul in Romania, Turkey and Lebanon, great-grandfather of Benedict Cumberbatch
Chadd Alphonso Fitzgerald Cumberbatch OBE, Montserratian visual and performing artist, playwright and poet

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/