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

Webb World Ranking

In the United States, the name Webb is the 125th most popular surname with an estimated 179,064 people with that name. 6 However, in Canada, the name Webb is ranked the 367th most popular surname with an estimated 12,530 people with that name. 7 And in Australia, the name Webb is the 85th popular surname with an estimated 27,754 people with that name. 8 New Zealand ranks Webb as 181st with 3,014 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Webb as 80th 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
Webb Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Webb Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Webb migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Webb Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
Webb Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Webb Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

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
Webb Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

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

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

Contemporary Notables of the name Webb (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Webb +
Fastest Delivery Possible

Digital Products on Checkout, all other products filled in 1 business day

Money Back Guarantee

Yes, all products 100% Guraranteed

BBB A+ Rating

The Best Rating possible

Secure Online Payment

Entire site uses SSL / Secure Certificate