From Colombières in the arrondissement of Bayeux, on which no fewer than seventeen knight’s fees were dependent. “William de Columbieres” is one of the knights mentioned by Wace at Hastings; and Ralf de Columbels, or Columbers, in Domesday, held lands in Kent and elsewhere in capite. Philip de Columbers in 1165 held a barony of eleven fees in Somerset, Wilts, Berks, Dorset, &c. (Lib. Niger.). The seat of this barony was Stawey in Somersetshire; and he enjoyed it in right of his wife Maud, sole heiress of Walter de Candos, who survived him, and lived for many years a widow, having paid a fine of forty marks to Cceur de Lion that “she might not be married against her will.” Her great grandson, John, was commanded in 1294 to attend Edward I. into Gascony, but shamefully deserted his banner and revolted to, the French. For this treason all his lands were seized by the Crown: but he appears to have been soon after pardoned and re-instated, and is subsequently mentioned in the Scottish wars. His seal was a bend with a label in chief, in which he differed from his ancestors, who had always sealed with a dove (colombe) sitting on a bush. Philip, Lord Columbers, his son, was constantly employed by Ed. III., followed him on his expedition into Scotland against Robert the Bruce, and in 1340 “was commissioned with the Earl of Devon to guard the western coasts, in which year he died, having been summoned to all the Parliaments from 10 Ed. II. to 13 Ed. III. inclusive. He married Alianor, sister and co-heir of William Martin, lord of the manors of Barnstaple, Combe-Martin, and other great possessions in Devonshire; but had no children. It seems that by certain deeds he made his said wife in his life-time joint-tenant with him in the greatest part of his lands, which, on her surviving him, accrued to her and her heirs.”—Collinson's Somerset. Heathfield Columbers, which retains the name, was held under the Mohuns.

Another of the family was Matthew de Columbers, settled in Wiltshire, and Constable of Winchester Castle under King John; who in the following reign adhered to the rebellious barons, and after they had taken the King prisoner at the battle of Lewes, was by them named Warden of all the Forests south of Trent, with the custody of Rockingham Castle. He made his peace with Hen. III. by virtue of the Dictum of Kenilworth, and was afterwards one of the Justices Itinerant of the southern counties. His heir was his brother Michael, who had paid King John one hundred marks for licence to marry the daughter of Elias Croc, and to have the office of Forester in fee after the death of his father-in-law, whose inheritance it was. There is no mention of his children.

In Derbyshire “the Columbells were seated at Darley on or before the reign of Richard I. John, the last heir male, died in 1659; and his daughter and heir married Marbury of Marbury in Cheshire. They bore three doves Argent with ears of wheat in their beaks.”—Lysons.

A Norman name: From the Domesday Book, de Columbels. Colomby; a local name