Newcomen

This is a famous English surname. It is recorded in several spellings including Newcom, Newcomen, Newcomb, Newcombe, and Newcome. Of pre 7th century Olde English origins, it appears to be locational, and to originate from some recently inhabited valley or combe. However this does not appear to be the case. It would seem that the derivation is from the Olde English words 'niwe cumen', which literally translate as the stranger or newcomer. As such it would have been given as a descriptive nickname to a 'comer-in', at a time when labour movements were rare, and often banned by law. Nicknames of various sorts form one of the largest groups in the surnames listing for Europe, although they were more usually given in relation to some physical characteristic, with examples including Crookshank or Broadhead. With this surname early examples of the recordings taken from registers and charters include William Neucum in the Boldon book of County Durham in the year 1183, and Richard Newecume in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. The name is well recorded in the surviving registers of the diocese of Greater London, an example being that of Ann, the daughter of Benjamin and Frances Newcomb, who was christened at St. Giles Cripplegate, on March 20th 1683, whilst Thomas Newcomen (1667 - 1723) invented the modern steam engine in 1698. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alan le Neucoument. This was dated 1175, also in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England, 1154 - 1189. Throughout the centuries surnames in every country have continued to "develop," often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.