Show ContentsHabbyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Habbyn is a name that dates far back into the mists of early British history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is derived from Robert. The name is derived from a pet form of the personal name Robert. In England, in the Middle Ages, rhyming was often used as a device. This practice continued on into the 18th and 19th centuries; cockney, a London dialect of the 19th century, used rhymes almost exclusively to get its point across without the "upper classes" knowing what was being said. A common diminutive of Robert is Rob and Hobb. 1 2

Early Origins of the Habbyn family

The surname Habbyn was first found in Worcestershire where the singular form of the name was first found. Henry Hobben was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327 and later Alice Hobben was registered in the Subsidy Rolls for Warwickshire in 1332. Later again, Richard Hobbyn was registered in Essex in 1408. 3

Early History of the Habbyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Habbyn research. Another 34 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1656 and 1770 are included under the topic Early Habbyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Habbyn Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Habbyn are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Habbyn include: Hobbins, Hobbin, Hobbis, Hobbiss, Hoben and others.

Early Notables of the Habbyn family

Distinguished members of the family include Agnes Hobbis, who held estates in Huntingdonshire during the reign of Edward 1st; and Ann Hibbins (Hibbens or Brennum Clenums), executed for witchcraft in...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Habbyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Habbyn family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Habbyn or a variant listed above: Thomas Hobin, who sailed to Barbados, Joane Hobbin, to Virginia in 1660; Peter Hobben to Philadelphia in 1754; Mary Hobbin to Boston in 1849; John Hobin to Philadelphia in 1859.



  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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