Find out how popular the last name Bobb is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Bobb.

Bobb, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Bobb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Bobb in America

Bobb is the 9184th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Bobb surname appeared 3,552 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Bobb.

We can also compare 2010 data for Bobb to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Bobb

The surname Bobb is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "bob," which means "to strike or beat." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was perceived as a combative or aggressive individual.

The earliest known record of the surname Bobb appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, where a person named Robert Bobb is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.

Throughout the medieval period, the surname Bobb was primarily concentrated in the West Midlands region of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The name can also be found in various historical records from these areas, including parish registers and tax rolls.

One notable individual with the surname Bobb was John Bobb, a merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Evesham, Worcestershire, in the 15th century. Records show that he was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a bailiff (a local official) in 1458.

In the 16th century, the surname Bobb spread to other parts of England, including London and the surrounding areas. During this period, variations in spelling became more common, with forms such as Bobe, Bobbe, and Boob appearing in historical documents.

Another notable figure with the surname Bobb was William Bobb, a playwright and actor who lived in London in the late 16th century. He is known to have written several plays, although only one, titled "The Tragedies of Sir John van Olden Barnavelt," has survived to this day.

In the 17th century, the surname Bobb continued to be present throughout England, with individuals bearing this name appearing in various records. One such person was Robert Bobb, a merchant who was born in Bristol in 1635 and later settled in the American colonies, where he became a prominent figure in the colonial trade.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Bobb remained relatively uncommon but could still be found in various parts of England and Wales. One notable individual from this period was John Bobb, a Welsh poet and writer who was born in Pembrokeshire in 1774.

Overall, the surname Bobb has a long and rich history, tracing its origins back to medieval England. While not a particularly common name, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, landowners, writers, and actors, throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Bobb

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Bobb.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Bobb was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Bobb has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Bobb was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bobb, please contact us.

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