A diminutive of French corbeau, a raven. The first Corbet came from Shropshire and settled in Teviotdale under Earl David in the first quarter of the twelfth century. He is said to have obtained the manor of Foghou which he held as a vassal under the earls of Dunbar (Chalmers, I, p. 499). Robert Corbet was a witness to the Inquisitio of Earl David c. 1124, and to a charter by the earl to Selkirk Abbey (Kelso, 4). His son, Walter, acquired the manor of Malcarvestun and other lands in Teviotdale and made grants to the Abbey of Kelso, and gifted the church of Malcaruiston to the same abbey (Kelso, 12). Between 1179—89 he witnessed a charter by William the Lion (RMP., p. 89). The seals of Robert Corbet and of Walter Corbet are attached to charters of the lands of Cliftun granted to the Abbey of Melrose, c. 1170 (Seals, 202,203), and the seal of Patrick Corbet, also appended to a Melrose charter of about the same date, bears a tree supported on each side by a lion rampant and in the branches two corbeau (ibid., 201). This device of the raven was afterwards adopted as the armorial bearing of several families of Corbets in Scotland and England. Nicholas Corbet was "in curia regis" at Berwick, 1248 (APS., I, p. 409,410), and as Nicholas Corbeth he witnessed a charter de warenna de Muskilburg to the monks of Dunfermline, 1249 (RD., p. 44). The Corbets enaed in direct line in an heiress, Christiana, who died in 1241 and was buried in the chapter-house of Melrose (Chron. Mail.). Rogier Corbet of Roxburghshire rendered homage, 1296. His seal is a gem, "a warrior arming himself, shield at his feet, Sigillum Rogeri Corbet" (Bain, II, p. 200,532). Adam Corbet of Berwickshire and Johan Corbet of Roxburghshire also rendered homage in same year (ibid., p. 207,211). William Corbet was one of an inquest at Roxburgh, 1361 (ibid., IV, 62), and Donald Corbatt had a charter of the lands of Ester Arnde from John of Yle, earl of Ross, 1463 (Clan Donald, I, p. 539). Till lately a family of Corbet possessed lands in Clydesdale. Corbat 1613, Corbart 1567, Corbert 1562.

(French-Latin) the Raven [Old French corbet = corbel (French corbeau), from, with diminutive suff., Latin corv-us, a raven] Burke says of the Moreton (Salop) family:—'This is one of the few families still existing who trace, in the male line, an undoubted descent from an ancient race of the same name in Normandy, of whom was Hugh Corbet (or Corbeau), living 1040.' The arms are: or, a raven, sa., with very many quarterings; motto, Deus pascit corvos (God feeds the ravens). Despite the succeeding “de Corbets,” therefore, Corbet is not a local name.

Corvus was the surname of a family of the gens Valeria. Cp. Corbin.

Corbett is an old English name.

In Ireland it is usually for Ó Corbáin (Munster) or Ó Coirbín (Connacht). MIF 65

(Eng, French, Irish) Dweller at the sign of the raven; the son of Corbet (raven).

Corbet, a noble Norman, came into England with the Conqueror, and from his son Roger Corbet descended the baronial house, as well as the families of the name now existing. Courtbope's Debrett.

(French.) A raven.

A Norman family too well known to need any detail. Hence the Barons Corbet of Caux, and the Baronets Corbet. See Eyton, Salop; Dugdale, Baronage, &c. The name also existed in Normandy, Ilbert, Remold, and Richard C. occur there, 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae).

(English), Corby; i. e., Crow or Raven. (variant: Crowe.)

A Norman name: From the Domesday Book, Corbet.

Shropshire has been for centuries the principal home of the Corbetts. Corbet was a common name there in the 13th century, and, in fact, in the Hundred Rolls of that date this county includes almost all of the name. The ancient and powerful Shropshire family of Corbett dated back to the time of Edward I. (L.). In the list of Shropshire contributors to the fund collected at the time of the expected Spanish invasion in 1588, occur the names of Jerom Corbett (£30), Edward Corbett of Longmore (£25), and Alice Corbett of Stoke, widow (£50), (Sp.). Since the reign of Henry V., the Corbetts or Corbets have at various times filled the office of bailiff or mayor of Shrewsbury, one of the mayors of last century being Sir Richard Corbett, baronet (P.). After the lapse of many centuries the name is still confined to counties adjacent to that of its early home, namely, to Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire.