Contents [hide]

Noble History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Australia New Zealand West Indies Canada United States

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Noble History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
France
Scotland

Etymology of Noble

What does the name Noble mean?

From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of notable family names, including that of the distinguished Noble family. Originally, the people in this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to become "fixed" or hereditary between the generations. One of the types of names adopted as surnames were those derived from nicknames. Nicknames, or "eke-names," were an added name that generally reflected some physical characteristics or other attribute of the person that used the name. The Noble surname derives from the Old French word "noble," meaning "high-born," "distinguished," or "illustrious;" and as such was a nickname for a person of noble birth, but perhaps also ironically for someone of low station.

Early Origins of the Noble family

The surname Noble was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France, where the family has been traced to early times.

Early History of the Noble family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Noble research. Another 150 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1439, 1558, 1576, 1650, 1699, 1715, 1730 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Noble History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Noble Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Noblet, Noblets, Noblat, Noblay, Noblé, Noblée, Noblés, Noblées, Noblais, Nobleais, Noblait, Noblaits, Noblays, Noblai, Noblaie, Noblaies, de Noblet and many more.

Early Notables of the Noble family

Martin Noblet (lived c. 1576), French painter
Etienne-Charles Noblet Knight of Saint-Louis and Mont-Carmel, Field Marshal

Noble World Ranking

In the United Kingdom, the name Noble is the 332^nd most popular surname with an estimated 18,494 people with that name. 1 However, in Australia, the name Noble is ranked the 360^th most popular surname with an estimated 10,038 people with that name. 2 And in New Zealand, the name Noble is the 485^th popular surname with an estimated 1,409 people with that name. 3 Canada ranks Noble as 594^th with 8,488 people. 4 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Noble as 266^th with 166 people. 5 The United States ranks Noble as 691^st with 42,279 people. 6 France ranks Noble as 4,268^th with 1,500 - 2,000 people. 7

Noble migration to Australia +

Noble Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Matthew Noble, British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Miss Isabella Noble, (b. 1795), aged 18, Irish convict who was convicted in Longford, Ireland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Catherine" on 8th December 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Archibald Noble, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asiatic" on 5th June 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. John Noble, English convict who was convicted in East Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Miss Mary Noble who was convicted in Glamorganshire, Wales for 14 years, transported aboard the "Edward" on 23rd April 1834, arriving in Tasmania, (Van Diemen's Land) 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Noble 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:

Noble Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. H. Noble, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rock City" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 4th June 1855 13
Joseph Noble, aged 38, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Shamrock" in 1856
Mary Noble, aged 26, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Shamrock" in 1856
Joseph Noble, aged 6, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Shamrock" in 1856
Mr. John Noble, Scottish ploughman travelling from Leith aboard the ship "Strathallan" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January 1858 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Noble 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. 14

Noble Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

George Noble, who settled in St. Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635
Mr. George Noble, (b. 1613), aged 22, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 15
Mark Noble, who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his wife, children, and servants

Noble migration to Canada +

Noble Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Francis Noble, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
Francis Noble, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Francis Noble U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 16
Mr. Francis Noble U.E. born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 16
Sgt. John Noble U.E. (b. 1757) born in USA who settled in Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick c. 1784 he enlisted in 1778 serving in the Maryland Loyalists 1st Battalion, he is a survivor of the shipwreck "Martha" in 1783, he died in 1846 Chatham, Northumberland County, New Brunswick 16
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Noble Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Henry Noble, who landed in Canada in 1832
Ambrose Noble, who arrived in Canada in 1834
William Noble, aged 28, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
Elizabeth Noble, aged 19, a spinster, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
Robert Noble, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Nancy" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Noble Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

J H Noble, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Noble migration to the United States +

Noble Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ann Noble, aged 21, who arrived in Isla de Providencia in 1635 aboard the ship "Expectation" 17
Thomas Noble, who arrived in Maryland in 1637 17
William Noble, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 17
Michaell Noble, who landed in Virginia in 1643 17
Robert Noble, who arrived in Virginia in 1650 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Noble Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Anthony, Noble Sr., who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 17
Cathrine Noble, aged 5, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 17
Anthony Noble, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1743 17
Duncan Noble, who landed in Florida in 1786 17
Henery Noble, who arrived in Mississippi in 1798 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Noble Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Brabazen Noble, who landed in New York in 1801 17
Alexander Noble, who arrived in Ohio in 1805 17
Brabison Noble, aged 77, who arrived in New York in 1812 17
Archibald Noble, aged 44, who landed in New York in 1812 17
Edward Noble, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1812 17
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Noble (post 1700) +

Brian Noble (1936-2019), British Roman Catholic Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury
Robert "Bobby" Noble (1945-2023), English footballer who played as a full back in the Football League for Manchester United (1962-1970)
Busby Noble (1959-1960), New Zealand Maori activist and Antarctic adventurer
Patricia Ann Ruth "Trisha" Noble (1944-2021), Australian Logie Award winning teenage pop singer and actress, known for her hit single, "Good Looking Boy" and her role in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith as Jobal Naberrie – mother of lead character Padmé Amidala
Mr. Ray Noble M.B.E., British Director for Solar BIPV Ltd, appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Renewable Energy 18
Ray Noble, Cuban Major League Baseball player
Peter Noble (1944-2017), English football forward who played from 1960 to 1983
James Wilkes Noble (1922-2016), American actor, best known for his portrayal of Governor Eugene Gatling on the American sitcom Benson
Gilbert Edward "Gil" Noble (1932-2012), American television reporter and interviewer
... (Another 99 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Noble family +

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Florence Noble, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mr. George Noble (1880-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
Mr. James Noble (1904-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
Mr. Charles Taylor Noble (1899-1941), Australian Regulating Petty Officer from Woollongong, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20
Gilbert John Noble, British Lieutenant (E) aboard the HMS Cornwall (1942) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 21
... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records of Australia (Retreived 2nd January 2021, retreived from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/catherine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th January 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
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)
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 4 July 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A