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Show ContentsGibbs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Gibbs surname is thought to have evolved in Britain, from the common medieval personal names Gibbon, or Gib. There was also a place named Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, listed in the Great Domesday Book of 1086, and the surname may have been taken on from the place name.

Alternatively, the name may be a nickname as this source explains: "as Tib was the name for a female cat, so was Gib for a male, but the distinction was gradually forgotten." 1

And a few sources note that the name is "a pet form of Gilbert (pledge, bright)" 2 3 4

Early Origins of the Gibbs family

The surname Gibbs was first found in Southern England, where a Ralph Gibiun (or Gibbewin) was on record in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1176. Geoffrey Gibewin (Gibwin) was listed several times in Curia Regis Rolls, in Somerset in 1196, in Northamptonshire in 1208, and in Buckinghamshire in 1213. A Gibbe de Huckenhale was on record in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire of 1179. 4

The Writs of Parliament list Adam Gibbe, 1311, but no place name. 1

Early History of the Gibbs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gibbs research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1513, 1570, 1573, 1583, 1585, 1589, 1600, 1601, 1603, 1604, 1605, 1610, 1611, 1615, 1625, 1627, 1629, 1638, 1640, 1642, 1644, 1647, 1648, 1660, 1676, 1697, 1718, 1721, 1771 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gibbs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gibbs Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gibbon, Gibbons, Gib, Gibb, Gibbs and others.

Early Notables of the Gibbs family

Notables of the family at this time include Gibbon or Guybon, who was Sheriff of Norfolk in 1513; Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), English composer and organist at Westminster Abbey; and Ellis Gibbons (1573-1603), an English composer, one of the older brothers of Orlando Gibbons. Christopher Gibbons (1615-1676), was an English composer and organist; and Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721), English (Rotterdam-born from English parents) wood-carver and sculptor, regarded as England's foremost decorative wood-carver. Charles Gibbon (fl. 1589-1604), was a miscellaneous writer, was a member of Cambridge University, but there is no record of his having...
Another 89 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gibbs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gibbs World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gibbs is the 414th most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Gibbs is ranked the 383rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,726 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Gibbs is the 206th popular surname with an estimated 2,712 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Gibbs as 306th with 19,800 people. 8

Ireland Migration of the Gibbs family to Ireland

Some of the Gibbs family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 73 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Gibbs migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gibbs Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Gibbs, who landed in Virginia in 1619 9
  • John Gibbs, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 9
  • Francis Gibbs, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Seaflower" 9
  • Giles Gibbs, who landed in Massachusetts in 1633 9
  • Henry Gibbs, who landed in Boston in 1633 aboard the ship "Elizabeth Bonaventure", bound for Hingham, Massachusetts 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gibbs Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Abraham Gibbs, a Jacobite Loyalist sold into slavery in Maryland in 1760
  • John Gibbs, who landed in America in 1760 9
  • Joseph Gibbs, who arrived in America in 1760 9
Gibbs Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ruth Gibbs, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 9
  • James Gibbs, who arrived in New York in 1818 9
  • Thomas F Gibbs, who landed in New York in 1835 9
  • Andrew Gibbs, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1841 9
  • Mrs. Gibbs, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Gibbs migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gibbs Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Edw Gibbs, who arrived in Quebec in 1784
Gibbs Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Corenelius Gibbs, aged 35, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Margaret" from London, England
  • Patrick Gibbs, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
  • Mr. Frances Gibbs, aged 1 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Virgilia" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on August 25th, 1847 10
  • Henry Gibbs, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
  • Charles B Gibbs, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
Gibbs Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Miss A Gibbs, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Australia Gibbs migration to Australia +

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

Gibbs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Edward Gibbs, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. George Gibbs, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Miss Kezia Kerenhappuck Gibbs, (b. 1808), aged 25, English maid who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for life for robbery, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1887 13
  • Mr. George Gibbs, (b. 1807), aged 30, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. John Gibbs, (b. 1803), aged 35, English farm labourer who was convicted in Buckinghamshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1843 in and accident 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Gibbs 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:

Gibbs Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • James Gibbs, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bombay 16
  • James Gibbs, aged 29, a cabinet maker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
  • Charlotte Gibbs, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
  • Isaac Gibbs, aged 23, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Bolton
  • James Gibbs, aged 35, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship "Bolton"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Gibbs 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. 17
Gibbs Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mary Gibbs, who landed in Jamaica in 1684 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Gibbs (post 1700) +

  • Coy Randall Gibbs (1972-2022), American NASCAR driver, assistant coach with the Washington Redskins, and co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, son of Joe Gibbs
  • Drew Gibbs (1962-2021), American football head coach of the Kean University Cougars during the 1989 season, where he compiled a record of 3–7, inducted into the New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014
  • Leonard William "Doc" Gibbs Jr. (1948-2021), American percussionist who toured with artists such as Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Bob James, Ricki Lee Jones, Al Jarreau, Grover Washington, Jr., and many more
  • Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs II (1821-1874), American Presbyterian minister and a prominent officeholder during Reconstruction, the 1st Black Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Instruction of Florida
  • Timothy Gibbs (b. 1967), American Emmy Award nominated director, actor, producer, and screenwriter
  • Robert Lane Gibbs (1971-2009), American politician, 28th White House Press Secretary (2009-2011)
  • Oliver Wolcott Gibbs (1822-1908), American chemist, best known for performing the first electrogravimetric analyses
  • Marla Gibbs (b. 1931), five-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee
  • George Gibbs (1815-1873), American geologist and ethnologist
  • William Francis Gibbs (1886-1967), American naval architect and marine engineer, designer of the ocean liner SS United States
  • ... (Another 88 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mrs. Brucie Gibbs (1901-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Wellington, 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 18
Fraterville mine
  • Mr. Frank Gibbs (d. 1902), African Welsh coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 19
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Charles W E Gibbs (b. 1920), English Leading Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Chertsey, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Edward George Gibbs, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 21
  • Mr. Colin Gibbs, British Musician, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21
  • Mr. Colin Gibbs, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. George Gibbs, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 22
  • Mr. William A Gibbs, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22
HMS Royal Oak
  • Athur R.F. Gibbs, British Blacksmith with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 23

Suggested Readings for the name Gibbs +

  • Gibbs-Chilton-Evans: Families of Rockingham County, North Carolina by Lizora Powell Harbour.
  • The Gibbs Family History and Their Relatives of the Olden Times by Vernon Lee Gibbs.
  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. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  7. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  8. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  9. 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)
  10. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 30)
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  18. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  19. News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).
  20. 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
  21. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  22. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  23. 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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