Show ContentsDibden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Dibden family

The surname Dibden was first found in Hampshire at Dibden, a small village that is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Depedene and was held by Odo of Winchester at that time. [1]

The name Dibden is from the Old English words "deop" + "denu" which collectively meant "deep valley." [2] "This place, the name of which, anciently Depedene, was descriptive of its situation in a thickly wooded dell, was of some importance at the time of the Conquest." [3]

The first record of the family was Geoffrey de Depeden, Norfolk, c. 1150 as listed in the History of Norfolk. Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Randolph de Depeden in Oxfordshire. [4]

In 1332 Thomas Dybyn was listed as holding estates in the Dibden, Hampshire area. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Ricardus Depeden. [4]

The Subsidy Rolls for Dorset included a listing for Thomas Dybyn in 1332 and later Thomas Dybben was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1476. William Dibben was later found in Somerset in 1664. [5]

Early History of the Dibden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dibden research. Another 126 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1455, 1476, 1487, 1664, 1745, 1813, 1833, 1866 and 1903 are included under the topic Early Dibden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dibden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Dibbin, Dibbon, Dibden, Dibbon, Debbin, Debbon, Dibben, Dybben, Dybbyn, Dibbyn, Dibdin, Dipden, Dipdon, Dipdan, Dippen and many more.

Early Notables of the Dibden family

Distinguished members of the family include Charles Dibdin, the son of a silversmith at Southampton, where he was born March 15, 1745, his mother being in her fiftieth year and he being her eighteenth child. His grandfather was a considerable merchant, who founded the village near Southampton which bears his name. Dibdin's eldest brother, who was twenty nine years his senior, was captain of an Indiaman and father of the Rev. Dr. Thomas Frognall Dibdin, the well-known bibliographer. Charles Dibdin, being intended by his father for the Church, was placed at Winchester College, but a passion for music took possession of...
Another 231 words (16 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dibden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Dibden migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Dibden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Fredk. Dibden, aged 35, who settled in America from Southampton, England, in 1914
  • Joseph Dibden, aged 30, who landed in America from Lyndhurst, England, in 1914
  • Fredk. Dibden, aged 35, who landed in America from Southampton, England, in 1914
  • Joseph Dibden, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Lyndhurst, England, in 1914
  • Mary Annie Dibden, aged 39, who landed in America from Flitwick, England, in 1915
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Dibden (post 1700) +

  • Harry Dibden, American cameraman, known for Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
  • Peter Dibden, American artist, known for his work on Angel Has Fallen (2019), Rocketman and A Street Cat Named Bob (2016)
  • Arthur J. Dibden (1967-1969), American President of Johnson State College, eponym of The Dibden Center for the Arts
  • Robert John Dibden, English musician, member of Urban Hype, an English breakbeat hardcore duo, active from 1998 to 2010
  • Richard Rockley Dibden (b. 1975), English former professional cricketer, born in Southampton, Hampshire who spent four years with Hampshire County Cricket Club
  • Emily Dibden, Australian contestant on The Bachelor Australia (TV Series) (2018)
  • Grant Phillip Dibden (b. 1961), Australian Anglican bishop and former military officer and chaplain, who has served as Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force since 18 March 2020

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. William Dibden (d. 1912), aged 18, English Second Class passenger from Lyndhurst, Hampshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [6]


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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