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

Dibble, 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 Dibble surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Dibble in America

Dibble is the 5884th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Dibble surname appeared 5,866 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Dibble.

We can also compare 2010 data for Dibble 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 Dibble

The surname Dibble is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "dibbe," meaning a small pit or hollow. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a small depression or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a Robertus Dibble is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were a series of administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of people living in various counties at that time.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Dibble surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. It is likely that the name originated in one of these regions, where the geographical features and local dialects influenced the development of the name.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Dybble, Dibbell, and Dybyll, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that period. One notable figure from this era was John Dybyll, a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in 1538 for his religious beliefs.

As the centuries progressed, the Dibble surname continued to be found throughout England, with several individuals leaving their mark on history. One such person was Sir Lewis Dibdin Dibble (1684-1761), a prominent British naval officer who served during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.

Another notable figure was Thomas Frognall Dibdin (1776-1847), an English bibliographer and writer who made significant contributions to the study of rare books and manuscripts. His work, "Bibliomania, or Book-Madness," published in 1809, is considered a classic in the field of bibliophilia.

In the 19th century, the Dibble name found its way to America, where several individuals of note emerged. One such person was Shelving Rock Dibble (1809-1876), a prominent lawyer and politician from New York who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Another notable American with the Dibble surname was Arthur Brown Dibble (1859-1935), a pioneering aviator and one of the first individuals to design and build successful aircraft in the early 20th century.

Throughout its history, the Dibble surname has been associated with various occupations and social strata, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who carried the name. While its origins may be humble, the name has left an indelible mark on various aspects of history, from literature and aviation to politics and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Dibble

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

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 Dibble 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 Dibble 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 Dibble was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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