[Surname] Re: the american surnames COMBE - GO - RYCE
by Sean Foglai (guest)
6/18/2004, 5:46 AM
I think Ryce is from the Welsh, Rhys meaning "fiery, zealous"
Combe, I've seen as geographic in northern England I think - maybe related to Cumberland. Also, I have found something similar in my Irish surname book as Comber which in Irish would be Ó Ciaragáin which a diminutive of ciar meaning "black" ...but likely an Anglicized word.
And just a guess on Go ...there's an Irish name Goan related to Gowan which means "smith" as in blacksmith.