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The surname is among the oldest in England, likely of pre-Saxon origin and is believed to date not long after 600 AD as 'Cuthbert's Ley' (Curthbert's clearing); later known as 'Cubberslege'. A British dictionary defines Coberly as Culberlege, dating from 1086 AD (a Doomsday Book citation); a 'Wood or clearing of a man called Cuthbeorht', and suggests that the personal name later added 'leah', 'leigh' or 'ley'. An exhaustive search found many distinct but related spellings of what may well be the original name before the Norman Conquest: Kuðbjartsló, translated from Culberlege, an ancient Icelandic translation dating to around 1050: 'Coberley (Glos.); Kuðbjartsló. Recent phonetic research also determined ancient roots of the name derived from Nordic/Icelandic, Viking or Innuit dialects. From Culberlege. 'Wood or clearing of Cúthbeorth. The Old English prefix cúth- (famous) in personal names is the etymological equivalent of the Icelandic adjective kuður, an obsolete variant of kunnur)'. Citation: Chapter Vii, Xii Coberly Connections, Pilgrims-Patriots-Presidents 2006.

There are ancient references (including footnotes in Domesday) to 'cow and berkelie' as one speculative origin, and to Cubba's Ley ('the great man Cubba', who may have been St. Cuthbert). A branch of the Berkeley family was given Coberley after the invasion (Berkeley de Coberly), with both Berkeley and Coberly experiencing many different spellings. [Dena, a Thane of Edward the Confessor listed Coberley as belonging to him, predating 1083 and the Romans and Saxons (see The Doomsday Book, circa 1086). Chapter Lxxv, page 50, covers Coberley with ancient citations such as Dena supporting contentions predating Ad 1082. Otherwise, the earliest recording of the place name cited in the Doomsday Book is 'Cabelei 'in the Feet of Fines of 1232, and as Cubbeleg; and in the Charter Rolls of 1255 as Cubbelegh. However, Doomsday's heading is Coberley, and mentions anciently Coberleie, and Culberlege.].

The current village of Coberly/Coberley exists about four miles from Cheltenham, Glouchestershire, in the Cotswolds; a roman villa was recently excavated there with Roman version of the name of Coberley recorded.

Records from 1100-1135 note a Ralf of Cobberley; in 1171 the name Coberley first ap-pears. In 1215 some surnames shifts back to Cobberley, with various combinations used by the Berkeley de Cobberley/Coberleys. In 1221 an Ernald de Coberley pops up. During the next 43 years, his name appears as Ernald of Coberley and Arnald de Berkeley (1258 to about 1264)..

·12 Mar 1377 Winchcomb Monastery, Abbey Glouchestershire. (page 412 cites letters of testimony from Thomas de Coburleye Nich. Karelas of Evansham, and Joan his wife, to John Almeshull and William Chabbenore transfer a 2s Cd anl rent from a tenant in Hal Street between Thomas Cobberley and John Benne)..

·In 1241-1248 a Richard de Covele and his wife Matilda are recorded, only to reappear in 1249 as Richard de Cowley and his wife Matilda. In 1262 Geoffry de Cubirle appears, and reappears in 1265 thru 1269 as Geoffrey de Cubberlye; however, in 1269 he is men-tioned as the 'well-beloved Master Geoffrey de Cuber-leg' and then in 1270 as Geoffrey de Cobberley of Co-berley. Note that 'well-beloved' is a term of endearment nor-mally given only to royal nobles. Note also that some spellings were recorded with typically Irish or Scottish style.

·Apr 29 Westminster: To John ap Rees escheator in Gloucesteshire. Order to cause Thomas de Cobberley son and heir of Joan (Archer), wife of William Whityng-ton, May 2, Westminster: To Robert de Muskham, clerk, Recognisase for 60s to be levied in default of pay-ment, for his lands and chattels in Gloucestershire. Defe-.

The spelling 'Cubberly' is first noted in 1270 via Philip de Cubberly, whom is also listed as a 'patron of Giles Berkeley'. In 1274 Philip reappears as Philip de Cobberly. Also in 1270, a Walter le Bachelor of Cober-legh is noted.

The year 1275 finds a Geoffrey de Cobberley with several spellings: Cuberleg, Cubberley, and Coberley.

See later citations for this Thomas Cobberley. Some modern researchers believe he may be the missing link between Berkeleys and Coberlys. A potential offspring, Thomas Coberly of Exeter and his Somerset relatives seem to be a likely source of James Cubberly of Amer-ica. One theory is thatThomas may also be related to James Cubberly, a feltmaker ( London ) who seems to have vanished in1704; it is entirely possible that this James, in turn, connected to James Cubberly of America .

In the 'Kentish Administrations of 1559-1649', Kent County, England, cover the administration of effects of persons dying intestate. William Cubberly, husband of Ja Cubberly, alias Baker, sister of Edward Chatham Baker, is listed as part of a settlement abstracted in 1647 pertaining to the estate of Edward.

(Excerpt) Pages 96-125, at the same library, also tells a great deal of the Cubberleys in England. It is sometimes spelled Cubberly, Cobberley and Cuberle, as in the case of Thomas de Berkeley, Lord of Cobberley, who was known as ' Thomas de Berkeley, dominus de Cubber-ley, and in the autumn of 1345, among six knights ap-pointed from each county to accompany the King across the Channel, was ' Thomas de Berkeley, Cuberle,' who fought at Crecy and Poitiers. In Cobberley Church at Cheltenham, the arms of Sir Thomas de Berkeley are shown 'Argent, a fesse sable, between three martlets of the.

Oral history recounts that Coberly originated at Coburg Castle in Germany. An underling princess of Coburg Castle married an underling prince of England she brought her entourage with her and with this entourage was a scribe named Cuthbert of Coburg. After his services to her were concluded he was granted land in England which became known Cuthburt of Coburg's Lea the Cob, which is in part with Coburg, ie. Cuthbert of Coburg, the English transfiguring it to Coberly.