Balcombe Name Origin
This Sussex locational name is found in a wide variety of spellings, all largely the result of local dialectal pronunciation. The origin is old English pre-7th Century although the first known mention 'Balecumba', does not occur until 1121 in the Ancient Charters of the county.The name is believed to mean 'the valley of the calamity' and perhaps refers to an ancient British battle site or similar, although it is also possible that 'Bale' is a shortened form of 'Baelgloc' which is a personal name.The surname development includes Marga Baukham, christened at St. Giles church, Cripplegate on April 7th 1661. Marga was the daughter of Richard Bawkom (see below) who married Richard Plimpton at St. Olaves, London in February 3rd 1725.The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Bawkom, which was dated 1659, a witness at St. Giles Church, Cripplegate, during the reign of Richard Cromwell - son of The Lord Protector (1658 - 1659).
