Surname Cobbett - Meaning and Origin
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Cobbett: What does the surname Cobbett mean?
The last name Cobbett is a patronymic surname, with origins stemming from the English language. The name derives from the Middle English name Cobbe, which is a pet form of the name Jacob. It was most commonly used during the Middle Ages, when Jacob was a popular given name. The suffix -ett was addedupon to form the last name, and refers to a diminutive form of the original name, usually given to a younger brother or a son.
Cobbett is an occupational surname, for a person who was a cob maker. A cob or cobber was a skillful maker of twisted strips of leather, which were used to make certain items of clothing, such as shoes and boots. They were also used for bridles, rope and rope ladders.
The Cobbett family descend from West Country, England, however, its wider roots can be traced back to the western and central parts of Europe. The original spelling of the last name has varied over the centuries, due to the British Isles’ prominent use of dialects and foreign languages. The name appears as Kobbett, Cobbett and Cobbett.
Cobbett is an uncommon surname, as of 2020 it was estimated to be held by approximately 4,700 individuals, primarily located in the United Kingdom. Individuals holding the surname have gone on to be accomplished in numerous fields, including government, business, teaching, medicine, arts, journalism, and literature. Examples include William Cobbett (1763-1835), a prominent political reformer, writer and publisher, and famous television personality, Richard Cobbett (b. 1966).
Order DNA origin analysisCobbett: Where does the name Cobbett come from?
The last name Cobbett is generally found today in countries such as England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Cobbett is an English surname and it is believed to have first appeared in the south and south-west of England and has been traced back to the early 13th century.
The first record of this surname dates back to 1208 in the records for the Surrey County. The earliest recorded form of the name is Cobet and in the year 1227 this was recorded in Suffolk. It is most likely of Norman-French origin, as were many other surnames adopted by families in the United Kingdom or English-speaking countries after the Norman Conquest.
Most occurrences of the name Cobbett are of English descent, however, there are also a number of Australian Cobbetts, which trace their ancestry to the individuals transported from England to Australia in the 1600s as punishment for crimes committed. These same families later emigrated to parts of North America, particularly the United States and Canada.
In the United States, the majority of people with the last name Cobbett are located in the South and in the Northeast. It is worth noting that some Cobbett families in the United States are of African descent, having changed their name from someone else's.
Overall, the last name Cobbett is still fairly common today, with individuals being located in many different countries, particularly those of English descent.
Variations of the surname Cobbett
The surname Cobbett has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Cobbet, Cobbete, Cobbett, Cobbetts, Cobbit, Cobble, Cobb, Cobbe, Cobbledick, Cobby, Coobbet, Corbett, and Corbitt.
Cobbett is an Anglo-Saxon name of old German origin with the meaning of "pay-worthy". It originated in the southern parts of Britain, in the county of Kent, and was the family name of a distinguished and long-standing English family from Lamberhurst in the Sussex region.
The spelling Cobbett is preferable and is of English-Anglo-Saxon etymology, while Cobbet is derived from the Anglo-Norman variation of the same name. In the early 1800s, the spelling Cobbet was common in the United States. The spelling Cobbetts is more common in Scotland. In France, the surname is spelled Cobbit.
The spelling Corbett is of Old French origin and is derived from the Old French given name Corb(e)on. It is believed to have been brought to England by the Normans and is common in the south-west region of the country. The spelling Corbitt is a variation of Corbett and is found mostly in the Northern regions of United Kingdom.
The most common spelling is Cobbett, and it is most likely to be found in the United Kingdom. It is believed to be the prevalent form on both sides of the Atlantic in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
In summary, the surname Cobbett has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Cobbet, Cobbete, Cobbett, Cobbetts, Cobbit, Cobble, Cobb, Cobbe, Cobbledick, Cobby, Coobbet, Corbett, and Corbitt. Cobbett remains the most common spelling of the surname in the United Kingdom.
Famous people with the name Cobbett
- Raymond Cobbett: British film, television and theatre character actor of the 1950s and 1960s, born in Australia.
- William Cobbett: English political reformer, journalist and author, often referred to as the Father of the modern English language.
- Charles Cobbett: English cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1834 and 1842.
- John Cobbett: British rower who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.
- Emily Cobbett: British actress and voiceover artist.
- David Cobbett: English footballer who played for Swansea City A.F.C and the England national team.
- Alexander Cobbett: British actor best known for his roles in films such as Black Mirror, Stardust and Captain Phillips.
- Ernest Henry Cobbett: British naval officer and explorer, who commanded a number of explorations in the late 19th century.
- Jocelyn Cobbett: Canadian actress and playwright, best known for her roles in the TV series Reaper and Two Sentence Horror Stories.
- Richard Cobbett: English journalist, author and game designer, best known for his work with PC Gamer and PC Zone magazines.