Wambaugh/Wombough/Wambough/Wombaugh
SOUNDEX (W512)

This page is dedicated to the collection of the Wambaugh, Wombough, Wombaugh, and Wambough Surnames. At this time it looks like this is the only web page dedicated to the Wambaugh surname. You will find no living individuals listed here, so you must know who your deceased ancestors were. I ask that if you are a Wambaugh descendant that you please contact me via email. I am trying to collect as many branch's of the surname that I can. I also have contacts for living descendants that may be related to you, and can help patch the unconnected branches together. 

Background: First off, the spelling. The most common spelling seems to be Wambaugh, however I have found that the spelling changed back and forth from one generation to another until about the 1920's. My Great Great Grandfather used the Wambaugh spelling, while his son used Wambough, and his grand son used Wombough. There are also some other variations on the name such as Wombock, Vombock, and Wanbaugh, just to name a few.

The Wambaugh name is German, from the Palatine section of Germany. The early Wambaughs came to America from Germany by way of Holland. These early settlers were in Western New Jersey and Eastern PA. They were confused as being Dutch since they came by boat from Holland.

The Wambaugh name is perhaps best know from Joseph Wambaugh the author. He has written a bunch of police novels such as, The Choir boys, The Onion Field, The Blue Knight and The Glitter Dome. I don't know much on him. Any fans care to give me a little more data on him? There also was a character with the Wambaugh name (played by Fyvush Finkel) on the TV series Picket Fences a few years back, don't know much about the show, maybe someone could fill me in sometime.

The town of Woodhull, New York is said to have been laid out by Henry Wombaugh, a wealthy financier, in 1834. The town consisted of the Woodhull Village (incorporated 1899, dissolved 1987).

I have recently came across a tidbit from the California Historical Society Quarterly Vol. 1 No. 1 July 1922. It seems that there was a Senator Wambaugh, who was part of the California senate that convened Jan 5, 1852. I don't have any idea from where he came from nor any info on any possible decedents of this man.

The most complete Wambaugh line in America that I have is for George Wilhelm Wombock who came to settle in Western NJ in the mid 1700's. I know of at least three branches with living relatives today. Of the three branches only one stayed in NJ. One branch settled in central NY near Corning/Elmira, and the other settled in OH. One descendant of the OH branch settled in Australia.

There were also Wambaughs located in Eastern PA in the late 1700's through the 1860's. There are a lot Wambaughs listed in the census during those years and there are likely to be decedents roaming around today. I only have one confirmed Wambaugh branch so far in southern PA, but I suspect that there is a Northeastern branch as well.

Besides the Eastern PA ad Western NJ settlers, there are also at least two other separate branches that settled in Western PA, and Indiana. 
The Trees, including surname lists:

  • This is the New Jersey Tree. This tree has branches in central southern NY, OH, and even Australia. The head of the tree is George William (Vilhelm) Wombock (Wambaugh). George William settled in NJ sometime in the mid 1700's. There are at least 3 researchers working this family. Leanne Lloyd is working the Australia, and part of the OH lines, Dennis Wombough (me) is working the NJ line, and a third off-line researcher has traced the New York line.
  • This is at least one part of the Eastern PA Wambaugh Tree from the York County area. The top of the tree starts with Georg Wanbach who was born in Mertzwiler in 1732. There is also a lot of Wambaughs in the North Eastern and central counties along the Delaware river who may or may not be part of this group. This info comes from Nancy Bannister. You should checkout Nancy's Home page to explore her other surnames.
  • This is the line of Ebenezer Dionysius Wambaugh who settled in Sullivan County Indiana by way of the Cincinnati area. This tree comes from Rochelle Riordan and is part of a much larger Wambach tree of Engers, Rheinland, Germany. I plan to add the Wambach tree to this page at a later date.
  • This is the latest line added to the web page. It is of Louis Napolean Wambaugh who came from Geissen, near Frankfort, Germany in 1831 and settled in the Somerset County area of South Western Pennsylvania. This is the 4th major line I have found. 

    • References:
  • The History of East Amwell published by the Hunterdon County NJ Historical society in 1976.
  • Leanne Lloyd's Web page including her Cornish links in Australia LEANNE"S LINKS
  • Nancy Bannister's Home page 
    My Most Wanted:
  • I really need help to find dencendant/info on Oliver Wombough of North Carolina in the 1900-1920 time frame. I have had contact with some decedents but haven't gained much info.
  • I am also seeking info on Harvey and Fidella Wombough. They had a infant daughter, Pearl, who died in 1913 in Neptune NJ. The birth certificate states that this is their second child That's all I know!
  • I'm looking for the research of Joseph Linn Marino Joseph was researching Wambaughs in PA and NJ earlier this decade. He has since passed away, and his research is ??
  • My Unattached Wambaugh list. This is a collection of names that I have come across, but can't attach them to any particular line. 
    Other Links with Wambaugh/Wombough Lines:
  • Nancy Bannisters Genealogy Page
  • Hixon Hixson Hickson Genealogy Page 
    A Few Basic Genealogy Links:
  • Family Tree Maker A good site for those just starting with computer genealogy research.
  • Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites The page for genealogy links. Cyndi is truly a linkaholic.
  • Brother's Keeper This is a great shareware program for those who are frugle minded.
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