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

Fobb, 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 Fobb surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fobb in America

Fobb is the 84136th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fobb surname appeared 223 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Fobb.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fobb 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 Fobb

The surname Fobb is believed to have its origins in the Middle English word 'fob', which referred to a small pocket or pouch worn at the waist. This name is thought to have originated in England, possibly in the 14th or 15th century.

The earliest known record of the name Fobb dates back to the late 16th century, when it appeared in parish records from the county of Somerset. During this time, the name was sometimes spelled as 'Fobbe' or 'Fobbes'. It is likely that the name was initially an occupational surname, given to someone who made or sold these small pouches or pockets.

In the 17th century, the name Fobb can be found in various records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, which list several Fobb families living in the village of Martock, Somerset. One notable figure from this period was John Fobb (1637-1717), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol.

As the centuries passed, the name Fobb spread to other parts of England, with records showing Fobb families in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Dorset. In the 18th century, William Fobb (1723-1801), a prominent lawyer from Bath, gained recognition for his legal writings and his service as a magistrate.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Fobb continued to appear in various records, including the birth and marriage registers of several English parishes. One notable individual was Thomas Fobb (1812-1887), a renowned architect from London who designed several churches and public buildings in the city.

Another significant figure was Charles Fobb (1845-1912), a pioneering engineer from Manchester who played a crucial role in the development of early steam locomotives and railway infrastructure in the United Kingdom.

While the name Fobb has its roots in England, it eventually spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as families emigrated from the British Isles. However, the name remains relatively uncommon, and its origins can be traced back to the small pouches or pockets that gave rise to this distinctive surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fobb

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

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

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

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