Secombe

This interesting surname, of English locational origin, derives from either of two places in Devon, both so called from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Secca", plus the Olde English element "cumb" (of Celtic origin) denoting a short, straight valley, and is a common element in English placenames. In some instances, the surname may have derived from "Seacombe", in Liverpool, from the Olde English elements "sae", sea and "cumb", valley (as above). The surname itself is particularly widespread and popular in the Counties of Devon and Cornwall, as it is prominent in early Church Records of both counties. The christening of Katherine, daughter of William Secombe, took place on April 9th 1553 at Lezant in Cornwall. Anna, daughter of John Seccomb, was christened at Hartland on October 5th 1584. Gregorie, son of Digorie Seccombe, was christened at St. Andrew's, Plymouth, on August 13th 1609. The family Coat of Arms consists of a red band between three lions rampant inside a black engraved border, on a silver background. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Seccombe, which was dated 1412, at Seccombe, Devonshire, during the reign of King Henry 1V, known as "Henry of Bolingbroke", 1399 - 1413. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.