Bibow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Bibow was first found in Mecklenburg, where the name could be considered to make a great early contribution to the feudal society which became the backbone of early development of Europe. The name became prominent in local affairs and branched into many houses which played important roles in the savage tribal and national conflicts, each group seeking power and status in an ever changing territorial profile. Chronicles record the founding of this name as follows: The progenitor of the family was of the von Hahn family, but due to the great pleasure he derived from drinking his name was changed to Bibow, a name derived from the Latin word "bibere" meaning to drink. His relatives liked the name so much that they established a Coat of Arms which depicted a rooster sitting on a green cushion. This was a reference to von Hahn, who customarily sat on a green cushion. This coat of arms must have been established before 1390 because in this year Eggerd von Bibave was using a seal composed of a rooster sitting on a cushion. Other chronicles say the name derives from the family seat of Bibow in the district of Luebz in the duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, which the family acquired in 1242.