1560s, in relation to duties or obligations, from Latin incumbentem (nominative incumbens), present participle of incumbere (see incumbent (n.)). The literal, physical sense is rare in English and first attested 1620s.
Not to be confused with Tompkins County, New York. Tompkins is a town in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 1,247 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Daniel D Tompkins, a New York political leader.
Map Map of Tompkins County, New York : from actual surveys General-content county map showing towns (townships), rural buildings, and householders' names; the city and village insets show building coverage and occupants' names. Hand colored to emphasize town boundaries, area of City of Ithaca, and insets.