Bobban Surname History

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Bobban

What does the name Bobban mean?

The ancestors of the bearers of the Bobban family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in the village of Bobbing, a parish in the union and hundred of Milton, in the county of Kent. 1

Early Origins of the Bobban family

The surname Bobban was first found in Kent, at Bobbing, a village and civil parish in the Swale district that dates back to c. 1100 when it was first listed as Bobinge. The place name literally means "settlement of the family or followers of a man called Bobba," from the Old English personal name + "ingas." 2

Early History of the Bobban family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bobban research. Another 202 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1500, 1637 and 1688 are included under the topic Early Bobban History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Bobban Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Bobban include Bobbin, Bobben, Bobban, Bobbing, Bobing, Bobins and many more.

Early Notables of the Bobban family

More information is included under the topic Early Bobban Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Bobban family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Bobban or a variant listed above: James Bobin, who arrived in New York state in 1716.

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)