Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• the rectorial house…Called Coombs 1870 Hutch3

• La Combe (boscus), the Combe e14 GlastE

• clausum qui vocatur la Combe 1338–40 Glast

• lands called Combes 1562 Hutch3

• on Conibrok' of þan brok' 968 Glast(S764) 14

• on Combrock' 1338–40 Glast

• rivulum de Combesbrok' 1338–40 m14 Glast

Etymology

Coombs (ST 785132), the rectorial house …Called Coombs 1870 Hutch3, La Combe (boscus ), the Combe e14GlastE , clausum qui vocatur la Combe 1338–40 Glast, lands called Combes 1562 Hutch3, Coombe Coppice , Coombe Plant . 1839TA , 'the valley', v. cumb . This name is to be associated with on Conibrok ' of þan brok '968 (14) Glast (S 764), on Combrock '1338–40 Glast, rivulum de Combesbrok '1338–40 ib, m14Glast , in the Anglo-Saxon and medieval bounds of Sturminster Newton, 'valley brook', the brōc in question being that which rises just S of the par. bdy and flows N to join the R. Stour near Coombs. The form Conibrok ' is no doubt simply an error for Combrok ' (thus making unnecessary Wallenberg's speculation in PNK 415–16 that it may contain a unique early instance of ME  coni 'rabbit').