Surname Gibbon - Meaning and Origin

Gibbon: What does the surname Gibbon mean?

The surname Gibbon is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Welsh personal name "Gibion". It is considered as a patronymic as it's based on the name of a father or ancestor. The name Gibion essentially means "the son of Gibion". It should also be noted that in some instances, it possibly derives from an English medieval personal name, Gibb, which is a short form of Gilbert. Gilbert comes from the Germanic "Gisilbert", meaning bright pledge. Over time, the name has evolved into various forms, including Gibbin, Gibben, Gibbon, Gibbons, Gibbens, and others. The surname Gibbon is widespread in Ireland and Great Britain, but it is most commonly found in Wales. It was made famous by Edward Gibbon, an English historian known for his work "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

Gibbon: Where does the name Gibbon come from?

The surname Gibbon is of Old French origin, derived from the diminutive of the given name Gilbert, thus initially denoting "son of Gilbert". The name made its way to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name being a diminutive implies a degree of affection, translating presumably to "young Gilbert" or "little Gilbert".

Interestingly, the name Gibbon may also have a Welsh origin where it is traditionally considered a variant of Gwyn meaning "blessed, fair, or white."

Over the centuries, this surname spread in various forms like Gibbons, Gibben, Gibbens, Gibbin, Gibbins, and was particularly common in Wales and in Western England.

Even today, Gibbon is more prevalent in England and Wales than anywhere else in the world. Specifically, it is widely found in areas such as Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire in the United Kingdom. However, through emigration and diaspora, the surname can also be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Notable people with this surname include the famous English historian and writer Edward Gibbon, author of "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire".

Variations of the surname Gibbon

The surname Gibbon is derived from the given name Gibb, a nickname for Gilbert, which is of Germanic origin. Variations of the name Gibbon can include Gibbons, Gibbens, Gippens, Gibb, Gibbs, Gibbes, and Gibbins, among others.

The name may also appear with a prefix, such as "Fitz", as in Fitzgibbon or FitzGibbons, which was originally used to indicate the son of someone named Gibbon. This form is particularly common in Ireland.

In terms of regional differences, the spelling "Gibbons" is more commonly found in England and Wales, while "Gibbon" without an "s" is more prevalent in Scotland.

The various spellings of the surname likely arose due to clerks and scribes recording a person's name as it was pronounced. This resulted in different spellings since the middle ages, thus creating an assortment of name variations for Gibbon. However, despite the different spellings, they all share the common root in the name Gibb.

As with most surnames, it's also possible that some people bearing the surname Gibbon or its variants may not be related by blood, as the name could also have been adopted by individuals or families at different points in history for different reasons.

Famous people with the name Gibbon

• Rebecca Gibbons: person involved in Human Resources and Project Management.
• Henry Gibbon: Entrepreneur and Angel Investor.
• Maud Gibbon: Composer and writer.
• Mary Nell Gibbon: Singer from the USA.
• Frank D. Gibbon: Military officer and General during the Second World War.
• Ella Gibbon: British Actress.
• Christopher Gibbon: British Politician.
• Gordon Gibbon: Canadian Politician and former MP.
• Danny Gibbon: Canadian Football League Player.
• John Gibbon: American Civil War General.
• Jack Gibbon: Major league Baseball Player.
• Neil Gibbon: British Motorcycle Racer.
• Stephanie Gibbon: British Actress and Film Director.
• Mary Gibbon: Historian and Former Professor.
• Ryan Gibbon: Canadian Politician.
• Barry Gibbon: American Businessman and Corporate Executor.
• Andrew Gibbon: British Actor.
• U. Gibbon: British Writer.
• Enoch Gibbon: English Witness to the Salem Witch Trials.
• Mark Gibbon: Canadian Actor.

Other surnames

Gibbons