EnglandThe name Gabbard is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes from the baptismal name son of Gilbert. In Old English, patronyms were formed by adding a variety of suffixes to personal names, which changed over time and from place to place. For example, after the Norman Conquest, sunu and sune, which meant son, were the most common patronymic suffixes. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the most common patronymic names included the word filius, which meant son. By the 14th century, the suffix son had replaced these earlier versions. Surnames that were formed with filius or son were more common in the north of England and it was here that the number of individuals without surnames was greatest at this time.
The surname Gabbard was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from very ancient times.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gabbard research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1239, 1273, 1307, 1533, and 1603 are included under the topic Early Gabbard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Gabbard has been spelled many different ways, including Gibbard, Gibbert, Gibert, Gybbard, Gybbert and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Gabbard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Gabbard is the 4,903rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Gabbards to arrive in North America: Thomas and Henry Gibbard landed in Virginia in 1774; William Gibbard settled in New Haven, Conn. in 1640; Ann, Edward and Jane Gibberd landed in New York in 1830.
