combes

Combes is a surname of French origin, derived from the Old French combe, meaning a hollow, ravine, or valley. The toponymic use of combe is widespread in French-speaking regions, and the plural form combes appears in various place names.

Notable people with the surname include Émile Combes (1835–1921), a French liberal statesman who served as Prime Minister from 1902 to 1905. As a leader of the Radical movement, he oversaw secularist policies and reforms that culminated in the 1905 law establishing the separation of church and state in France, a defining moment in the country’s political and educational landscape.

Geography and places: In the United States, Combes is the name of a city in Cameron County, Texas. The term also appears in other toponyms across Francophone regions, often reflecting a landscape feature described by the word combe.

In summary, Combes denotes a French-origin surname tied to geographic features, with notable historical significance in France and presence as a place name in multiple regions.