Show ContentsLobb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Lobb family

The surname Lobb was first found in Devon or Oxfordshire. Lobb is a hamlet in the parish of Great Haseley, poor-law union of Thame, hundred of Ewelme in Oxfordshire, 1 and Lobb is also a small village in west Devon, near Saunton. 2

It is generally thought that the name was a nickname for someone who was a "clumsy fellow" from the English word "lobb." 3 4 "In Somersetshire the last person in a race is called the lob," 5 and as such the name was quickly scattered throughout ancient England.

However, there is another possibility; that the name was in fact, Norman in origin as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae had two entries for the family: William Lobes, Normandy, and Henry de la Lobe, Normandy. 6 In both cases, the entries were from 1185-1195 and points to the possibility the some of the family emigrated to England around the time of the Conquest (1066) while others remained. Indeed the early Devon and Cornwall entries seem to agree with this thought.

Early rolls list Philip de Lobbe held lands in Devon in 1242 7 and in Cornwall, "the name of Lobb was represented in St. Kevern parish a century ago, and a gentle family of Lobb resided in Kenwyn 200 years ago, where the name still remains." 8

Other early records include Adam Lobbe, Norfolk, who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 5 and Richard Lobbe, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of Edward III) who was listed Kirby's Quest. 9

Despite these scattered early entries, today the name is generally understood Cornish and this is where we found the lion's share of notables and settlers.

Early History of the Lobb family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lobb research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1594, 1647, 1671, 1678, 1699, 1709, 1752 and 1763 are included under the topic Early Lobb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lobb Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lobb, Lobbe, Lob, Loeb, Loebb, Lobe and others.

Early Notables of the Lobb family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Emmanuel Lobb (1594-1671), pseudonyms Joseph Simons or Simeon, an English Jesuit and dramatist from Portsmouth; and Stephen Lobb (c.1647-1699), a Cornish nonconformist minister and controversialist fr...

Lobb Ranking

In the United States, the name Lobb is the 13,469th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 10


United States Lobb migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lobb Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Lobb, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 11
  • Christopher Lobb, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1686 11
Lobb Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Benjamin Lobb, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1726 11
Lobb Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Lobb, (b. 1820), aged 34, Cornish miner departing from Liverpool aboard the ship "May Flower" arriving in Philadelphia, USA on 7 October 1854 12
  • Mr. Richard Lobb, (b. 1860), aged 34, Cornish tailor, from Liskeard, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Teutonic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 25th April 1894 en route to Michigan, USA 13
  • Mrs. Emma L. Lobb, (b. 1878), aged 20, Cornish settler, from St Dennis, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th August 1898 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 13
Lobb Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. John E. Lobb, (b. 1852), aged 50, Cornish slater travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 30th August 1902 en route to Pennsylvania, USA 13
  • Mrs. Mary Ann Lobb, (b. 1851), aged 51, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 30th August 1902 en route to Pennsylvania, USA 13
  • Mrs. Mary Margaret Lobb, (b. 1877), aged 26, Cornish settler, from St Pinnock, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Campania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 7th November 1903 en route to Sioux City, Iowa, USA 13
  • Mrs. Margery E. Lobb, (b. 1878), aged 25, Cornish settler, from St Erth, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 19th September 1903 en route to Hamilton, Pennsylvania, USA 13
  • Ms. Elizabeth Lobb, (b. 1843), aged 60, Cornish dressmaker travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 19th September 1903 en route to Ripon, Wisonsin, USA 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Lobb migration to Australia +

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

Lobb Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Ms. John Lobb, (b. 1778), aged 30, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK in March 1838, sentenced for 10 years for stealing a cow from Benjamin Brokenshire, transported aboard the ship "Portsea" on 30th July 1838 to New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Ms. Mary Lobb, (b. 1770), aged 35, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 9th April 1839, sentenced for 7 years for receiving stolen goods from Thomas Nicholls at St. Columb, transported aboard the ship "Hindostan" on 6th May 1839 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 14
  • Mrs. Mary Ann Lobb, (b. 1804), aged 35 born in St. Columb, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 9th April 1839, sentenced for 7 years for receiving, transported aboard the ship "Hindostan" in 1839 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 15
  • Mr. William Lobb, (b. 1828), aged 21, Cornish farm labourer from Fowey, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Petrel" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 19th November 1849 16
  • Jane Lobb, aged 23, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "William Money" 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Lobb 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:

Lobb Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William John Lobb, aged 24, a miner, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
  • Grace Lobb, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cartvale" in 1874
  • Mrs. Grace Lobb, (b. 1852), aged 22, Cornish settler departing on 25th June 1874 aboard the ship "Cartvale" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 11th October 1874 18
  • Mr. William J. Lobb, (b. 1850), aged 24, Cornish miner departing on 25th June 1874 aboard the ship "Cartvale" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 11th October 1874 18
  • Mr. James Lobb, (b. 1842), aged 32, Cornish labourer departing on 16th November 1874 aboard the ship "Rakaia" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 7th February 1875 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Lobb (post 1700) +

  • Kenneth Alan Lobb, American video game designer
  • William Lobb (1809-1864), Cornish plant collector, employed by Veitch Nurseries of Exeter, born at Lane End, Washaway near Bodmin Cornwall
  • John Lobb (b. 1866), English founder of the company John Lobb Bootmaker in London which produced footwear for European royalty
  • Bryan Lobb (1931-2000), first-class English cricketer from Bournville, Birmingham
  • Dan Lobb (b. 1972), British television sports presenter and a former tennis champion from Colden Common near Winchester, Hampshire
  • Thomas Lobb (1817-1894), Cornish botanist, younger brother of William Lobb
  • Arthur John Lobb (1871-1928), Cornish-born, Canadian politician who served in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1915 to 1920
  • Benjamin T. Lobb (b. 1976), Canadian politician who represents the federal riding of Huron-Bruce in the House of Commons (2008-)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mrs. Mary Beautrice Lobb, English 1st Class Passenger from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 20
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. William Arthur Lobb (d. 1912), aged 30, American Third Class passenger from Scranton, Pennsylvania who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 21
  • Mrs. Cordelia K. Lobb (d. 1912), (née Stanlick), aged 26, American Third Class passenger from Scranton, Pennsylvania who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 21


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  7. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  8. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  9. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  10. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  11. 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)
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  14. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
  17. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "WILLIAM MONEY" 1848-49. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849WmMoney.htm
  18. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Wellington 1872-1880 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nz_wellington.pdf
  19. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  20. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  21. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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