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

Gibbon, 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 Gibbon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gibbon in America

Gibbon is the 19716th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gibbon surname appeared 1,366 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 Gibbon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gibbon 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 Gibbon

The surname Gibbon originates from England and traces its roots back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "gibun," meaning a hunchback or a crooked person. This nickname likely referred to someone with a hunched back or a deformed physique.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various medieval records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk from 1273 mention a "Walter Gibun." Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 include a "Thomas Gyboun."

The Gibbons were particularly prevalent in the counties of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Warwickshire. The name also appeared in various forms, such as Gybbun, Gibbun, and Gybbon, reflecting the variations in spelling during that period.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was John Gibbon, an English Catholic prelate who lived from 1543 to 1589. He served as the Bishop of Llandaff and was a prominent figure during the English Reformation.

Another significant individual was Grinling Gibbons (1648-1721), a renowned English sculptor and woodcarver who achieved fame for his intricate and detailed carvings in wood. His works adorned numerous churches and royal palaces, including St. Paul's Cathedral and Hampton Court Palace.

In the literary realm, Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) stands out as the author of the monumental work "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." This seminal work, published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788, established Gibbon as one of the most influential historians of all time.

Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) was a prominent English composer during the Renaissance period. He served as an organist at the Chapel Royal and is regarded as one of the most significant composers of keyboard music and sacred compositions of his era.

Another notable figure was Sir Samuel Gibbon (1826-1906), a British naval officer and explorer. He is best known for his explorations in the Arctic regions, where he charted previously uncharted waters and made significant contributions to the understanding of the region's geography and climate.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gibbon

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

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

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

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