Contents [hide]

Webb History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Webb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

When the ancestors of the Webb family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066, they brought their name with them. It is a name for a weaver which was in turn derived from the Old English word webbe, meaning a woven cloth, and was used to indicate someone employed in making such fabric. 1

Early Origins of the Webb family

The surname Webb was first found in Wiltshire where they held a family seat anciently from about the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. "This name is confined south of a line drawn from the Wash to the Dee. It is most numerous in Somerset and Wiltshire, in the west of England; but is also well represented in Suffolk in the east of England and in Northamptonshire in the midlands." 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list early spellings and some of the first recordings of the family: Adam le Webbe in Essex; and Elyas le Webbe in Buckinghamshire. 3

The founder of the Dorset branch of the family was William Webb, of Salisbury, merchant, in the reign of Henry VIII. "By marriage, William, the son of the founder, obtained Motcombe, in com. Dorset. Sir John Webb, in the early part of King James I.'s reign, purchased Canford estate, for 14,000/." 4

In Gloucestershire, another branch of the family was found at Hatherop. "By the marriage of Mary, the heiress of the Bloomer family, to Sir John Webb, this property was acquired ; and within my memory has passed away by the marriage of the heiress of the Webbs to the Ponsonby family." 4

Early History of the Webb family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Webb research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1554, 1566, 1568, 1570, 1571, 1572, 1581, 1583, 1584, 1590, 1591, 1611, 1612, 1622, 1623, 1625, 1626, 1628, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1644, 1663, 1672, 1708, 1713, 1718, 1719, 1734, 1735, 1772, 1773, 1775, 1793, 1794, 1797, 1798, 1815, 1817, 1826, 1843, 1852, 1873 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Webb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Webb Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Webb, Webbe and others.

Early Notables of the Webb family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

John Webb or Webbe (1611-1672), the English architect, came of a Somerset family, but was born in London in 1611. He was educated from 1625 to 1628 at Merchant Taylors' school. 5 Thomas Webb (c.1...
Mrs. Webb (d. 1793) née Child, born in Norwich was an actress and a singer in the Norwich company. She appears to have made her first appearance in Edinburgh on 21 Nov. 1772 at the Theatre Royal in S...
Daniel Webb (1719?-1798), the Irish author was born at Maidstown, co. Limerick, in 1718 or 1719 and was the eldest son of Daniel Webb of Maidstown Castle. He matriculated from New College, Oxford, on...

Webb World Ranking

In the United States, the name Webb is the 125^th most popular surname with an estimated 179,064 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Webb is ranked the 367^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,530 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Webb is the 85^th popular surname with an estimated 27,754 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Webb as 181^st with 3,014 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Webb as 80^th with 56,072 people. 10

Migration of the Webb family to Ireland

Some of the Webb family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Webb migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Webb or a variant listed above:

Webb Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Christopher Webb, who landed in Braintree, Massachusetts in 1628 11
Richard Webb of Suffolk who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Cambridge 11
Elizabeth Webb of Suffolk who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet, found in Cambridge 11
Miss Katherin Webb, aged 22, who arrived in Isla de Providencia in 1635 aboard the ship "Expectation" 12
Thomas Webb, aged 18, who arrived in Barbados in 1635 aboard the ship "Falcon" 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Webb Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hannah Webb, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 11
Humphry Webb, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 11
Isac Webb, who landed in New England in 1731 11

Webb Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Webb, aged 36, who landed in New York in 1812 11
Isabella Webb, who arrived in New York, NY in 1843 11
Eva Webb, aged 12, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 11
Barbara Webb, aged 14, who arrived in New York, NY in 1847 11
Bartholeme Webb, aged 7, who landed in New York, NY in 1847 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Webb migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Webb Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Richard Webb, who settled in Brigus, Newfoundland, in 1677 13

Webb Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Webb, who was a fisherman in Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, in 1735 13
Mrs. Ann Webb U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 333 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 14
Mr. Noah Webb U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 14
Mr. Richardson Webb U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 14
Mrs. Sarah Webb U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Webb Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Isaiah Webb, who arrived in Canada in 1831
Clayton Webb, who landed in Canada in 1836
Isaac Webb, who landed in Canada in 1836
Mrs. Ann Webb, aged 47 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Bridgetown" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 15
Mr. John Webb, aged 18 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Bridgetown" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Webb migration to Australia +

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

Webb Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. John Webb, English convict who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16

Webb Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Webb, British convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. Alexander Webb, English boatman who was convicted in Worcester, Worcestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. Samuel Webb, English convict who was convicted in Chichester, West Sussex, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
Miss Mary Webb, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Canada" in March 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
Mr. William Webb, English convict who was convicted in Gloucestershire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Webb migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Webb Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Charles Fredrick Webb, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Cuba
George Webb, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
William H Webb, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
Charles Webb, aged 20, a bricklayer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cuba" in 1840
Miss Sarah A. Webb, (b. 1815), aged 24, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 22
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Webb migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 23

Webb Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Anthony Webb, aged 20, who arrived in St Christopher in 1633 11
Mr. Edward Webb, aged 17 who arrived in St. Kitts (St Christopher) aboard the ship "Amity" in 1635 24
Mr. Thomas Webb, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler travelling from Gravesend, England aboard the ship "Falcon" arriving in Barbados in 1636 25
Samuel Webb, his wife and servants, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Webb (post 1700) +

James Edwin Webb (1906-1992), American second administrator of NASA and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, namesake of the James Webb Space Telescope
Paul Webb (1929-2023), American college basketball head coach at Randolph–Macon College from 1956 to 1975 and at Old Dominion University from 1975 to 1985
Spencer Webb (2000-2022), American football tight end for the Oregon Ducks
Charles Richard Webb (1939-2020), American author, best known for his 1963 novel The Graduate, which was made into a film of the same name (1967)
James Kenneth "Jimmy" Webb (1957-2020), American punk fashion stylist and the long-time manager of New York City's Trash and Vaudeville
Max Webb (1917-2018), Polish-born, American Holocaust survivor, real estate developer and philanthropist from Los Angeles, California
Robert McDaniel Webb (1989-2017), American Major League Baseball player for the Chicago White Sox from 2013 through 2016
Wilfred Dwight Webb (1921-2016), American educator and politician, Member of the Michigan House of Representatives (1987-1992)
Stephen H. Webb (1961-2016), American theologian and philosopher of religion
William Henry "Chick" Webb (1905-1939), American jazz drummer and band leader
... (Another 193 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Webb family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Alfred William Webb (d. 1979), New Zealander passenger, from Waitoa, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 26

Fraterville mine

Mr. Houston M. Webb (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 27
Mr. Eli Webb (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 27
Mr. W. K. Webb (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 27
Mr. Conda Webb (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 27
Mr. Wm. J. Webb (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 27

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Oliver Ernest Raymond Webb (1909-1941), Australian Acting Petty Officer from Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 28
Mr. Arthur Charles Webb (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from St. Albans, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 28

HMS Hood

Mr. Albert F Webb (b. 1902), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. William Webb, British Artificer / Gunner, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30
Mr. Charles Webb, British sailor, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30
Mr. Charles Samuel Henry Webb, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30

HMS Repulse

Mr. Webb, British Chief Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 31
Mr. Allan George Webb, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 31
Mr. Frank Reg Webb, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 31
Mr. Lancelot Vere Obe Webb, British Commander "S", who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 31

HMS Royal Oak

Richard Stanley Webb (1921-1939), British Musician with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 32
Dudley Howard Webb (d. 1939), British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 32

Prince of Wales colliery

Mr. Job Webb (b. 1823), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 33
Mr. Thomas Webb (b. 1864), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 33
Mr. Alfred Webb (b. 1864), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 33

RMS Lusitania

Mr. James Webb, English Trimmer from Walton, Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 34
Mr. William Webb, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Medforth, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 35
Mrs. Sarah Webb, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Medforth, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 35
Mrs. Elizabeth Webb, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Medforth, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 35
Miss Minnie Webb, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 35

RMS Titanic

Mr. S Webb (d. 1912), aged 28, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 36

SS Alcoa Puritan

N.G. Webb, American Able Seaman from Mobile, Alabama, who was working aboard the SS Alcoa Puritan (1942) traveling from Port of Spain, Trinidad to Mobile, Alabama when it was torpedoed by U-boat U-507; he survived the sinking 37

SS Caribou

Mr. Kelvin Webb, (Calvin), Newfoundland passenger who was Royal Navy from Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he survived the sinking, settled in the UK after marrying

USS Arizona

Mr. Carl Edward Webb, American Private First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 38

Citations +

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Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Oliver, George, Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion in the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester London: Charles Dolman, 61, New Bond Street, 1857. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
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H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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