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

Gibbons, 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 Gibbons surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Gibbons in America

Gibbons is the 1183rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Gibbons surname appeared 29,824 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 10 people would have the surname Gibbons.

We can also compare 2010 data for Gibbons 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 Gibbons

The surname Gibbons has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the old English word "gibbe", meaning a male cat or tomcat. The name likely referred to someone with cat-like features or characteristics.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gibbons can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a Robert Gibbons is mentioned. Another early reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of Wiltshire from 1221, which mentions a Robert Gibbun.

The Gibbons surname is also found in various medieval records and manuscripts, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Roger Gybun in Oxfordshire. The name is also mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Gibbon is listed.

In the 16th century, the Gibbons surname can be found in various parish records and local histories. One notable example is William Gibbons, a prominent clockmaker who lived in London from 1583 to 1624. Another famous bearer of the name was Orlando Gibbons, an English composer and organist who lived from 1583 to 1625.

During the 17th century, the Gibbons family established themselves in various parts of England, including Buckinghamshire, where a branch of the family owned estates near Olney. One notable member of this branch was Grinling Gibbons, a renowned English sculptor and wood carver who lived from 1648 to 1721.

Other notable individuals with the surname Gibbons include John Gibbons, an English actor and playwright who lived from 1615 to 1667, and Thomas Gibbons, an English Catholic priest and author who lived from 1720 to 1785.

Over time, the Gibbons surname has spread across the English-speaking world, with many descendants settling in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, its origins can be traced back to medieval England and the old English word "gibbe".

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Gibbons

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

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

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

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