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

Fobbs, 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 Fobbs surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Fobbs in America

Fobbs is the 20227th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Fobbs surname appeared 1,317 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 Fobbs.

We can also compare 2010 data for Fobbs 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 Fobbs

The surname Fobbs is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "foppe," meaning a fool or jester. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who was perceived as foolish or who entertained others as a jester.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the Fobbs surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Richard Fobbe is listed. This document was a record of land ownership and taxation, indicating that the Fobbs family had already established itself in the region by that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Fobb, Fobbe, and Fobbes, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that period. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a John Fobbe, while the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1379 list a Thomas Fobbes.

The Fobbs name has also been linked to certain place names, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire and Worcestershire. It is believed that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their association with a specific location, such as a town or village.

Notably, the Fobbs surname appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early mention further solidifies the surname's English roots and its presence in the country during the Middle Ages.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Fobbs surname. One example is John Fobbs (c. 1520-1590), an English merchant and Member of Parliament who represented the town of Ludlow in Shropshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure is William Fobbs (1640-1711), a prominent landowner and justice of the peace in the county of Oxfordshire.

Other individuals with the Fobbs surname include Thomas Fobbs (1675-1742), a respected clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwickshire, and Elizabeth Fobbs (1720-1785), a philanthropist and benefactor known for her charitable work in the city of Bristol.

The Fobbs surname has also been associated with various professions and trades throughout its history. For instance, Samuel Fobbs (1785-1862) was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker who established a successful business in London during the early 19th century.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Fobbs

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

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

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

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