Bibby
A surname derived from a location name associated with an area near a brook or stream.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,885 Americans carry the last name Bibby. That puts it at #17,385 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.55 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 181,833 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Bibby surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.9K
1 in 181,833
Census rank
#17,385
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,624 bearers of the surname Bibby in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.55 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 17385th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Bibby, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.1%. The next largest groups are Black (15.2%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Bibby
The surname Bibby originates from England, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bybi," which referred to a small settlement or hamlet.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Byby." This document was a census-like survey undertaken during the reign of King Edward I.
The Bibby name has strong ties to Lancashire, particularly in areas around the town of Wigan. In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Bybie" and "Bibbie," reflecting the regional dialects of the time.
Historically, the Bibby family held land and property in the villages of Upholland and Billinge, near Wigan. Records from the 17th century mention John Bibby (1624-1697), a prominent landowner and yeoman farmer from Upholland.
Another notable figure was James Bibby (1777-1861), a successful cotton manufacturer from Leigh, Lancashire. He established the Bibby Line, a renowned shipping company that played a significant role in the growth of the British maritime industry.
The Bibby surname also has connections to the town of Chorley, where the Bibby family owned several mills and factories during the Industrial Revolution. One member of this branch was Sir Joseph Bibby (1838-1914), a businessman and philanthropist who was knighted for his contributions to the local community.
In the literary world, Walter Ebenezer Bibby (1871-1949), a writer and journalist from Liverpool, gained recognition for his works on local history and dialect poetry.
The name Bibby has also been associated with notable figures in other fields, such as John Bibby (1918-2007), a British author and illustrator of children's books, and Edward Bibby (1838-1889), a pioneering English engineer and inventor of agricultural machinery.
While the Bibby surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and family connections, carrying with it a rich historical legacy.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Bibby
Among Census respondents with the surname Bibby, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.1%. The next largest groups are Black (15.2%) and Two or More Races (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Bibby bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Bibby surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White79.1%
- Black or African American15.2%
- Two or more races2.5%
- Hispanic or Latino2.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Bibby surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #17,385 | #17,385 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,624 | 1,624 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Bibby bearers went from 1,624 to 1,624 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #17,385 to #17,385.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Bibby
FAQ
Bibby surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Bibby?
The surname Bibby holds position #17,385 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,885 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.55 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Bibby surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Bibby, the largest self-reported group is White at 79.1%. The next largest groups are Black (15.2%) and Two or More Races (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.