Corbett is an English-language

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

. It is derived from the

Anglo-Norman French Anglo-Norman, also known as Anglo-Norman French ( nrf, Anglo-Normaund) ( French: ), was a dialect of Old Norman French that was used in England and, to a lesser extent, elsewhere in Great Britain and Ireland during the Anglo-Norman period. When ...

Middle English Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

, and

Old French Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligib ...

''corbet'', which is a diminutive of ''corb'', meaning "

raven A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...

". The surname probably originated from a

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

referring to someone with dark hair or a dark complexion like a raven's. The surname was brought to England from

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

, and spread to Scotland in the 12th century,. and into northern Ireland in the 17th century.. This webpage cites . Early instances of the name are ''Corbet'' in

Shropshire Shropshire (; alternatively Salop; abbreviated in print only as Shrops; demonym Salopian ) is a landlocked historic county in the West Midlands region of England. It is bordered by Wales to the west and the English counties of Cheshire to th ...

, recorded in ''

Domesday Book Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manusc ...

'' in 1086; ''Corbet'' in

, recorded in the

Assize Rolls The courts of assize, or assizes (), were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes ex ...

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a county in the West Midlands of England. The area that is now Worcestershire was absorbed into the unified Kingdom of England in 927, at which time it was constituted as a county (see His ...

in 1158; and ''le Corbet'' in

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

, recorded in the '' Eynsham Cartulary'' in 1323. Variations of the surname include: ''

Corbet Corbet () is a small village and townland (of 618 acres) in County Down, Northern Ireland, 5 km east of Banbridge. It is situated in the civil parish of Magherally and the historic barony of Iveagh Lower, Lower Half. It lies within the Ba ...

'', and ''

Corbitt Corbitt is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Claude Corbitt (1915–1978), American baseball player * Don Corbitt (1924–1993), American football player * Gregory Corbitt (born 1971), Australian field hockey player * Helen Corb ...

''.. Corbett is sometimes an

Anglicised Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

form of the

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

surnames ''Ó Corbáin'' and ''Ó Coirbín'', which mean "descendant of ''Corbán''" and "descendant of ''Coirbín''", respectively.. This webpage cites .

Names borne by several Corbetts

Jim Corbett Edward James Corbett (25 July 1875 – 19 April 1955) was a British hunter, tracker, naturalist, and author who hunted a number of man-eating tigers and leopards in the Indian subcontinent. He held the rank of colonel in the British Indian ...

(including James Corbett) * John Corbett (disambiguation) * Michael Corbett * William Corbett * Uvedale Corbett (disambiguation)

In politics

* Albert H. C. Corbett, politician in Manitoba, Canada * Alfred H. Corbett, politician in Oregon, United States *

Archibald Corbett, 1st Baron Rowallan Archibald Cameron Corbett, 1st Baron Rowallan (23 May 1856 – 19 March 1933), was a Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Party Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament and Liberal Unionist Party politician. Early life The second son o ...

, Scottish Liberal politician *

Arthur Corbett, 3rd Baron Rowallan Captain Arthur Cameron Corbett, 3rd Baron Rowallan (17 December 1919 – 24 June 1993), was a British aristocrat most notable for successfully having his second marriage annulled in 1970 on the grounds that his wife April Ashley, a transgender ...

, British aristocrat most notable for successfully having his second marriage annulled in 1970 * Henry W. Corbett, 3rd United States senator from Oregon *

Irvine Finlay Corbett Irvine Finlay Corbett (February 12, 1915 – October 7, 1986) was a Canadian former politician. He served in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1952 to 1963, as a Social Credit member for the constituency of Yale. He died in 1986 ...

, politician in British Columbia, Canada *

Jerry Corbett Jerome Garrett Corbett (January 19, 1917 – October 20, 1997) was an American businessman, baseball player, and politician. Corbett was born in Hardin, Illinois. He went to Hardin High School and then graduated from Routt Catholic High Schoo ...

(1917–1997), Illinois state representative *

John Corbett (industrialist) John Corbett (''bapt.'' 29 June 1817 – 22 April 1901) was an English industrialist, philanthropist and Liberal Party politician of the Victorian era. He is particularly associated with the salt industry in Stoke Prior and Droitwich Spa, ...

(1817–1901), English industrialist, politician and philanthropist * James Corbett (Australian politician) (1906–2005), Australian Country Party politician * James A. Corbett (1933–2001), American rancher, writer, and human rights activist *

Jim Corbett (politician) James Nielson Corbett Jr. (September 26, 1924 – June 30, 2007) was an Arizona politician. He was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 1956 to 1958, the Tucson City Council from 1963 to 1967, and then Tucson City Mayor from 1967 ...

, U.S. politician *

Moses Corbet Major Moses Corbet (1728–1814) was a British Army officer who served as Lieutenant Governor of Jersey from 4 April 1771 to 6 January 1781. Early career Corbet joined the British Army c.1745. In 1748 he was an Ensign in the 7th Regiment of Foo ...

, major (1728–1814), lieutenant governor of Jersey from 4 Apr 1771 to 1781 * Panton Corbett, MP (1785–1855) *

Richard Corbett Richard Graham Corbett CBE (born 6 January 1955) is a former British politician who served as the final Leader of the European Parliamentary Labour Party (EPLP), from 2017 to 2020. He was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Merseysi ...

, member of the European Parliament for the Labour Party for Yorkshire and the Humber *

Robert Corbett Robert Alfred Corbett (born 14 December 1938) was a member of the House of Commons of Canada from 1978 to 1993. His background was in business. Corbett was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, was the son of James Ross Corbett and Helen Elma Yea ...

, politician in New Brunswick, Canada *

Robin Corbett, Baron Corbett of Castle Vale Robin Corbett, Baron Corbett of Castle Vale (22 December 1933 – 19 February 2012) was a British Labour Party politician and journalist. Corbett sat in the House of Commons from 1974 to 1979 and then from 1983 to 2001, before being elevated to ...

, the Labour member of parliament for Birmingham, Erdington * Ron Corbett, mayor of Cedar Rapids, Iowa *

Thomas Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan Thomas Godfrey Polson Corbett, 2nd Baron Rowallan, (19 December 1895 – 30 November 1977), had a distinguished military career in the British Army and was Governor of Tasmania from 1959 to 1963. The Boy Scouts Association appointed him as its C ...

, Bronze Wolf awardee *

Tom Corbett Thomas Wingett Corbett Jr. (born June 17, 1949) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 46th governor of Pennsylvania from 2011 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 1995 ...

, governor of Pennsylvania (2011–2015)

In sport

* Arch Corbett (1883–1920),

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er * Austin Corbett, American football player *

Claude Corbett Claude Gordon Corbett (1885–1944) was an Australian sporting journalist and was the sporting editor for Sydney's ''Sun'' newspaper in the early twentieth century. Early life Claude Corbett was born in Waterloo, New South Wales in 1885 an ...

, Australian sports journalist *

Doug Corbett Douglas Mitchell Corbett (born November 4, 1952) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) relief pitcher who played for the Minnesota Twins, California Angels and Baltimore Orioles between 1980 and 1987. Early years Doug Corbett was bo ...

(born 1952), American baseball pitcher *

Fred Corbett Frederick Corbett (1 January 1881 – 15 April 1924) was a professional footballer who played for Thames Ironworks (where he worked as a labourer) and the club's successor West Ham United, before spending three spells at Bristol Rovers punctua ...

, English footballer who played in the late 19th and early 20th century * Gene Corbett, major league first baseman from 1936 to 1938 * Harold Corbett, Australian rugby league footballer *

James J. Corbett James John "Jim" Corbett (September 1, 1866 – February 18, 1933) was an American professional boxer and a World Heavyweight Champion, best known as the only man who ever defeated the great John L. Sullivan (hence the " man who beat the man ...

, heavyweight boxing champion *

Joe Corbett Joseph Aloysius Corbett (December 4, 1875 – May 2, 1945) was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played in the National League. He was born in San Francisco, California. Corbett, the younger brother of World Heavyweight Boxing Champi ...

, major league starting pitcher who played in the National League *

John Corbett (coach) John Corbett (November 14, 1869 – February 20, 1947) was an American football player and coach of multiple sports. He played football for Harvard University from 1890 to 1893 and was selected as one of the two halfbacks on the 1890 College Foot ...

, American football player and college sports coach *

Leo Corbett Leo James Corbett (25 June 1895 – 19 September 1959) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia ...

, Australian footballer *

Marius Corbett Marius may refer to: People *Gaius Marius (157 BC-86 BC), Roman statesman, seven times consul. Arts and entertainment * ''Marius'' (play), a 1929 play by Marcel Pagnol * "Marius" (short story), a 1957 story by Poul Anderson * ''Marius'' (193 ...

, South African javelin thrower * Mike Corbett (ice hockey, born 1942), professional hockey player *

Mike Corbett (ice hockey, born 1972) Mike Corbett (born January 31, 1972) is an American ice hockey coach who was previously the head coach at Alabama–Huntsville Chargers from 2013 to 2020. Corbett played junior ice hockey for the Wisconsin Capitols of the United States Hockey Leagu ...

* Norman Corbett, Scottish footballer *

Willie Corbett William Risk Corbett (31 August 1922 – 31 July 2011) was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre-half. Corbett made 60 official appearances for Celtic F.C., Celtic from 1946 to 1948 (having joined in 1941 during wartime) and also played f ...

, Scottish footballer *

Young Corbett III Ralph Giordano (born Raffaele Giordano, May 27, 1905 – July 15, 1993), better known as Young Corbett III, was an Italian-born American boxer. He was the World Welterweight Champion in 1933 and the NYSAC Middleweight champion in 1938. A tough S ...

, the world welterweight boxing champion *

Steve Corbett Stephen Paul Corbett (born August 11, 1951) is a former American football offensive guard who played one season for the New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston are ...

, American football Offensive Guard

In literature

* Edward P. J. Corbett, author * The

Misses Corbett The Misses Corbett were sisters Walterina Cunningham (died 1 April 1837) and Grace Corbett ( – 11 June 1843). They were Scottish authors who wrote a number of books, poems and songs in the early nineteenth century, most notably a series of antho ...

, Grace (–1843) and Walterina (died 1837), Scottish poets and authors *

Maryann Corbett Maryann Corbett (née Zillotti, Washington, D.C.) is an American poet, medievalist, and linguist. She grew up in northern Virginia. She did her undergraduate work at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and graduated with ...

, American poet, medievalist, and linguist *

Sarah Corbett Sarah Corbett is a speaker, professional activist, author and the founder of Craftivist Collective, a social enterprise which uses the technique of craftivism - combining craft and activism - to engage people in social justice issues "in a qui ...

, British poet born 1970, received

Eric Gregory Award The Eric Gregory Award is a literary award given annually by the Society of Authors for a collection by British poets under the age of 30. The award was founded in 1960 by Dr. Eric Gregory to support and encourage young poets. In 2021, the seven ...

1997 *

Scott Corbett W. Scott Corbett (July 27, 1913 – March 6, 2006) was an American novelist and educator. Beginning 1950 he wrote five adult novels, then began writing books for children. He retired from teaching in 1965 to write full-time. His best known book ...

children's author * Steve Corbett, author of '' When Helping Hurts''

In business

Gerald Corbett Gerald Michael Nolan Corbett DL (born 7 September 1951) is a businessman who was the chairman of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). A businessman, over a long career he has been a director of thirteen public companies, seven of which he has chair ...

(born 1951), head of Railtrack *

Henry L. Corbett Henry Ladd Corbett (July 29, 1881April 22, 1957) was an American businessman, civic leader, and politician in the state of Oregon. He was born into one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Oregon. Corbett attended Harvard Universi ...

(1881–1957), American businessman and politician, in Oregon * Kevin Corbett (born 1955), American businessman, shipping and transportation, ED of NJTranist *

Roger Corbett Roger Campbell Corbett (born 6 September 1942) is an Australian businessman. From January 1999 to September 2006, Corbett served as CEO of Woolworths Limited, a large retailing conglomerate. Career Educated at Shore School, Corbett graduated f ...

(born 1942), Australian businessman, CEO of Woolworths Ltd 2001–2007

In television, film and fiction

Ben Corbett Ben Corbett (February 6, 1892 – May 19, 1961) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 280 films between 1915 and 1956. He was born in Hudson, Illinois and died in Hollywood, California. Corbett was a trophy-winning rodeo part ...

(1892–1961), American actor *

Bill Corbett William Daniel Corbett (born March 30, 1960) is an American writer and performer for television, film and theatre. He was a writer and performer on the cult television show ''Mystery Science Theater 3000'' (''MST3K''), for which he voiced the r ...

, playwright, television writer, screenwriter, and performer *

Daniel Corbett Daniel Corbett is an English broadcast meteorologist, who worked for the Met Office and the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC for many years until May 2011. He joined the Met Office and BBC Weather Centre in 1997, after beginning his career ...

, British meteorologist *

Glenn Corbett Glenn Corbett (born Glenn Edwin Rothenburg; August 17, 1933 – January 16, 1993)"CORBETT Obituary — Corbett, 59, starred in 'Route 66,' Wayne films." ''San Antonio Express-News'' January 18, 1993. Web. May 29, 2012. Document #0F22314D ...

, American actor *

Gretchen Corbett Gretchen Hoyt Corbett (born August 13, 1945) is an American actress and theater director. She is primarily known for her roles in television, particularly as attorney Beth Davenport on the NBC series ''The Rockford Files'', but has also had a pro ...

, American actress most noted for the role of "Beth Davenport" on the television series The Rockford Files *

Harry Corbett Harry Corbett OBE (28 January 1918 – 17 August 1989) was an English magician, puppeteer and television presenter. He was best known as the creator of the glove puppet character Sooty in 1952. Biography Corbett was born in Bradford, W ...

(1918–1989), British puppeteer *

Harry H. Corbett Harry H. Corbett OBE (28 February 1925 – 21 March 1982) was an English actor and comedian, best remembered for playing rag-and-bone man Harold Steptoe alongside Wilfrid Brambell in the long-running BBC television sitcom ''Steptoe and Son'' ( ...

(1925–1982), British actor *

Jeremy Corbett Jeremy Corbett (born 1962 in Westport, New Zealand) is a radio and television host and comedian from New Zealand. Corbett is the former breakfast co-host for More FM's Auckland broadcast, a position he held since 1993, finishing in November 2 ...

, New Zealand comedian *

John Corbett John Joseph Corbett Jr. (born May 9, 1961) is an American actor and country music singer. On television, he is best known for his roles as Chris Stevens on ''Northern Exposure'' (1990–1995), Aidan Shaw on ''Sex and the City'' (2000–2003), ...

(born 1961), American actor *

Kari Corbett Kari Corbett (born 16 February 1984) is a Scottish actress, artist and filmmaker. Corbett is perhaps best known for portraying Ruby Hepburn in the Channel 4 comedy drama '' Shameless'', Nurse Marian McKaig in ITV's ''The Royal'', Sarah in the ...

, Scottish actress *

Matthew Corbett Peter Graham "Matthew" Corbett (born 28 March 1948) is an English actor, singer, comedian, magician, puppeteer, television presenter and writer, best known for presenting ''The Sooty Show'' and later ''Sooty and Co''. He is the son of Sooty's ...

(born 1948), British television personality known for The Sooty Show *

Ronnie Corbett Ronald Balfour Corbett (4 December 1930 – 31 March 2016) was a Scottish actor, broadcaster, comedian and writer. He had a long association with Ronnie Barker in the BBC television comedy sketch show ''The Two Ronnies''. He achieved promine ...

(1930–2016), Scottish comedian and actor *

Shaun Taylor-Corbett Shaun Michael Taylor-Corbett (born October 6, 1978) is an American actor, singer and writer. He is the son of choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Music Executive Michael Corbett. Taylor-Corbett is of Native American descent and has three sist ...

, American actor *

Susannah Corbett Susannah Jane Corbett (born 10 August 1968) is an English actress and author. Her acting career began in 1991 and she has performed on television, film and radio. As an author, she writes children's books. Early life Born in Marylebone in Lon ...

, English actress *

Tom Corbett, Space Cadet Tom Corbett is the main character in a series of ''Tom Corbett—Space Cadet'' stories that were depicted in television, radio, books, comic books, comic strips, and other media in the 1950s. The stories followed the adventures of Corbett, Astro ...

, the main character in a series of Tom Corbett — Space Cadet stories * Winslow Corbett, American actress and the daughter of Rockford Files supporting player Gretchen Corbett

In the military

Boston Corbett Thomas H. "Boston" Corbett (January 29, 1832 – presumed dead September 1, 1894) was an American Union Army soldier who shot and killed U.S. president Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Corbett was initially arrested for disob ...

, the Union soldier who shot and mortally wounded

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

's assassin,

John Wilkes Booth John Wilkes Booth (May 10, 1838 – April 26, 1865) was an American stage actor who assassinated United States President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. A member of the prominent 19th-century Booth th ...

Elsie Cameron Corbett Elsie Cameron Corbett (1893 –1977) was a volunteer ambulance driver and major donor to the World War I, World War One Scottish Women's Hospitals for Foreign Service, Scottish Women's Hospital for Foreign Service in Serbia, She was a prisoner of ...

(1893 –1977), volunteer ambulance driver in World War I * Frederick Corbett, English recipient of the Victoria Cross *

Julian Corbett Sir Julian Stafford Corbett (12 November 1854 at Walcot House, Kennington Road, Lambeth – 21 September 1922 at Manor Farm, Stopham, Pulborough, Sussex) was a prominent British naval historian and geostrategist of the late 19th and ear ...

, British naval historian and geostrategist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries * Thomas Corbett, Indian Army officer

In geography

John Rooke Corbett John Rooke Corbett (27 September 1876 – 13 August 1949), better known as J. Rooke Corbett was one of the founder-members of The Rucksack Club and their Convener of Rambles. In the 1920s Corbett compiled a list of Scottish hills between 2500 an ...

, mountaineer and compiler of list of peaks between 2500 and 3000 feet.

In other fields

Edwin Corbett Edwin Corbett (4 December 1819 – 22 February 1888) was a British diplomat who was envoy to several countries. Career Edwin Corbett graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1843, joined the Diplomatic Service in 1847 and was attaché at Par ...

(1819–1888), British diplomat, envoy to several countries *

Greville G Corbett Greville G. Corbett (born 23 December 1947) is Distinguished Professor of Linguistics at the University of Surrey and founder member of the Surrey Morphology Group. Biography He was educated at the University of Birmingham where he was awarded a ...

(born 1947), British linguist *

(1875–1955), British hunter and naturalist in India * James W. Corbett (1928–1994), American physicist *

Jonathan Corbett Jonathan Corbett is a British TV food channel presenter, food commentator, and buyer working for Tesco plc. Born and raised in Telford, Shropshire. Corbett was educated at the Charlton School, before training as a Chef at Radbrook Catering Col ...

, British TV presenter, food commentator & buyer for Tesco *

Joseph Corbett Jr. Joseph Corbett Jr. (October 25, 1928 – August 24, 2009) was an American fugitive, murderer, and prison escapee who, in 1960, was placed on the FBI's 10 most wanted list after kidnapping and murdering Adolph Coors III, heir to the Coors bee ...

(1928–2009), American former Fulbright scholar jailed for murder * Liz Corbett English epidemiologist *

Margaret Darst Corbett Margaret Darst Corbett (January 17, 1889 – December 5, 1962)Ned Corbett (1887–1964), Canadian adult educator and leader in the field. *

Sidney Corbett Sidney Corbett (born April 26, 1960 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American composer based in Germany. Biography Sidney Corbett was born in Chicago in 1960, studied music and philosophy at the University of California, San Diego, and continued ...

(born 1960), American composer based in Germany * Ted Corbett (chemist) (1923–2018), New Zealand organic chemist

References

{{surname, Corbett English-language surnames