Recorded in many spellings including Collumbine, Cullabine, Collumbell and Cullombel, this is an English surname. It derives from the Old Irish name "Columban", from the original Latin "columba", meaningf a dove. St. Columban was born in Leinster, in the year 540 a.d. and in his life he founded three monastic settlements at Annegray, Luxeuil and Fontaine, in the Vosges, and commenced the foundation of the great abbey of Bobbio in Italy in 614, the year prior to his death. With his companion, St. Gall, he enjoyed a considerable cult throughout central Europe, and forms of his name were adopted as given names: in Italy (Columbano, Colombini); France (Colomb, Colombain); Czechoslovakia (Kolman); and Ireland (Colman). From all of these surnames are derived. In Irish and English, the name of the saint (Columban) is identical with diminutives of the name of the 6th Century missionary, now generally known as St. Columba, who converted the Picts to Christianity. He was born in Dongegal circa 521, and died on the island of Iona in 597. The personal name in its Latin form "Columbus" and "Columba" was popular among early Christians because the dove was considered to be the symbol of the Holy Spirit, and in 1230, one Colubina le Noreis was recorded in London, whilst on March 9th 1642 Thomas Columbel married Elizabeth Mortus at St Stephans church, in the city of London, and on July 12th 1643, John Columbine, was christened at Stone (in the Isle of Oxney), Kent. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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