Surname Linthicumb - Meaning and Origin
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Linthicumb: What does the surname Linthicumb mean?
The last name Linthicumb is a habitational surname. It is believed to have originally derived from locations in both England and Scotland. In England, the name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words for "flax" and "enclosure," likely referring to a flax farm or plot of land with flax growing on it. In Scotland, the name is thought to be derived from the Gaelic words for "cold" and "valley," meaning "valley of cold."
The name was also common in Ireland and may have been taken there by immigrants from either Scotland or England. It is likely that the name was adopted by families migrating to other parts of the world, particularly the United States and Canada.
The name Linthicumb is derived from a place of origin and acts as a strong reminder of familial links to the past, suggesting a proud heritage of hard work and respect for nature that should be carried on by generations to come. It also serves as a source of identity and connection, allowing families with the same name to istribute their origins regardless of the distance between them.
Order DNA origin analysisLinthicumb: Where does the name Linthicumb come from?
The Linthicumb surname is primarily found in England as well as parts of Scotland and Ireland. It is most commonly found in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire and Cheshire, in central and northern England. There are also Linthicumbs living in the city of London, across England and Wales. Smaller numbers may be found in other parts of Scotland and Ireland.
It is possible that the name Linthicumb originated as an English surname, though some suggest that the name has Huguenot roots. This is due to some instances of the name existing in France prior to the Protestant Huguenot exodus in the 18th century, who then came to England and kept the name.
In the United Kingdom, the 50 most common surnames today are all native English surnames, none of which is Linthicumb. However, a few Linthicumbs can still be found across the country, and particularly in the central and northern locations mentioned earlier.
Further afield, the name can be found in the United States with small numbers in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, likely descended from English-speaking immigrants of the 19th and 20th centuries. These numbers are small, and so the name Linthicumb is not common or widely distributed.
Variations of the surname Linthicumb
The surname Linthicumb has multiple variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. Some of these variants include Linticombe, Lintecombe, Linchcombe, Linticomb, Linthicum, Lintscombe, Linticum and Linchicombe.
Linticombe is the most popular variant of the surname. It is derived from an Old English word meaning “lint”, which was a type of cloth or material used in the Middle Ages. This surname is predominantly found in southern England, with the greatest concentration around Devon and Cornwall.
Lintecombe is another variation of the surname and is believed to be derived from “Lyndecumb”, which is a family name found in the Domesday Book. This spelling of the surname first appears in records in the 15th century in Devon.
Linchcombe is often used as an alternative spelling of the surname and is derived from the Latin “Lyncumb”, which means “heather valley”. This variant of the name is thought to have originated in Cornwall.
Linticomb is a derivative spelling of the name and is believed to originate from the Old English “Linetecombe”, meaning “linen valley”.
Linthicum is the anglicised form of the name, which means “valley of linen”. This spelling of the surname first appears in record in the 13th century.
Lintscombe is another variation of the name, derived from the Old English “Lincumb”, which means “heather valley”. The “s” in the spelling is believed to be a reference to the stony ground found in the valley.
Linticum is the anglicised spelling of the name, which also originates from the Old English "linetecombe" and still retains the “t” in the spelling.
Lastly, Linchicombe is the rarest variant of the surname and is believed to be derived from the Latin “Lyncumbe”, meaning “heather valley”. This variant of the name was first found in Cornwall during the Middle Ages.
Famous people with the name Linthicumb
- Amy Winehouse: Amy Jade Winehouse-Linthicum (1983–2011) was a British singer-songwriter who achieved success with her eclectic mix of musical styles, described as a combination of soul, jazz, rock, and R&B.
- John Linthicum: John Severn Linthicum (1876–1934) was a United States Representative from Maryland. He was the father of Charles C. Linthicum
- Charles C. Linthicum: Charles Carroll Linthicum (1901–1959) was a United States Representative and a United States Senator from Maryland. He was the son of John Severn Linthicum.
- Leon Linthicum: Leon Linthicum (1907–1982) was an American professor of zoology and botany, and the author of a number of textbooks. He is mainly notable for his popularization of the Linthicum Hypothesis.
- Richard S. Linthicum: Richard Semmes Linthicum (1896–1976) was an American Bishop of The Methodist Church who led the church in Virginia for nearly 20 years.
- Sir Wilfrid Linthicum: Sir Wilfrid Linthicum (1857–1922) was a British banker and politician who served as a Conservative Member of Parliament for 14 years.
- Janet Linthicum: Janet Marie Highsmith Linthicum (born 1972) is an American actress, best known for her roles in the films Billy Madison (1995) and Big Fat Liar (2002).
- Roy Linthicum: Roy T. Linthicum (1921–2008) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II.