Show ContentsGibbard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Gibbard came from the baptismal name as in "son of Gilbert, popularly Gibbert, Gibberd, or Gibbard." [1]

Early Origins of the Gibbard family

The surname Gibbard was first found in Lincolnshire, where Robert filius Giberti was recorded. Later in Winton, Hampshire, Gislebert Gibart was recorded c. 1110 and in Lincolnshire, Richard Gybard was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1298. Over in Leicestershire, Alice Giberd was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. [2]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included entries for Henry Gilbard, Norfolk; John Gilbard, Norfolk; and John Gilberd, Cambridgeshire. The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III included an entry for William Gilberd, Gloucestershire, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of the reign of King Edward I.) [1]

Early History of the Gibbard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gibbard research. Another 134 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1239, 1273, 1307, 1533, 1603, 1730 and 1778 are included under the topic Early Gibbard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gibbard Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Gibbard has been recorded under many different variations, including Gibbard, Gibbert, Gibert, Gybbard, Gybbert and many more.

Early Notables of the Gibbard family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Gibbard of Sussex


United States Gibbard migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Gibbard or a variant listed above:

Gibbard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Gibbard, who settled in New Haven, Conn. in 1640
  • William Gibbard, who arrived in Connecticut in 1657 [3]
Gibbard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Nicholas Gibbard, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1764 [3]
  • Thomas Gibbard, who landed in America in 1770 [3]
  • Thomas and Henry Gibbard, who landed in Virginia in 1774

Australia Gibbard migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gibbard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Gibbard (post 1700) +

  • Benjamin Gibbard (b. 1976), American singer, songwriter and guitarist, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie rock band Death Cab for Cutie
  • Allan Gibbard (b. 1942), American Professor of Philosophy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; he co-developed the Gibbard–Satterthwaite theorem
  • Philip Leonard Gibbard (b. 1949), English Quaternary geologist from Chiswick, Londonnd, Professor of Quaternary Palaeoenvironments in the University of Cambridge, Department of Geography
  • John Gibbard, Canadian founder of The Gibbard Furniture Shops Limited, Napanee, Ontario in 1835, at one time Canada's oldest furniture factory, sadly closed in 2009
  • Paul Gibbard, Canadian diplomat, Canadian Ambassador to Venezuela (2010-2013)
  • Les Gibbard (1945-2010), New Zealand-born, British political cartoonist, journalist, illustrator and animator


The Gibbard Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Facta non verba
Motto Translation: Deeds not words


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant


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