Hibbs
Derived from a pet form of the medieval English name "Isabel" or from a place name meaning "Hibba's farm."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 6,478 Americans carry the last name Hibbs. That puts it at #6,134 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.89 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 52,911 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Hibbs surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
6.5K
1 in 52,911
Census rank
#6,134
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.9
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
5.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 5,585 bearers of the surname Hibbs in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.89 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6134th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Hibbs, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Hibbs
The surname Hibbs originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hib" or "hibb", meaning a seed or berry. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a berry patch or grew berries. Early variations of the spelling include Hybb, Hibbe, and Hibbes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1194, which mention a Richard Hib. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also contain several references to individuals with the surname Hibbs or similar spellings, such as William Hibbe and Adam Hibbes. These records indicate that the name was prevalent in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas during the 13th century.
The Hibbs surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. However, the specific individuals mentioned in the Domesday Book with this surname are not clearly documented.
In the 16th century, the name Hibbs began to appear in parish records and other historical documents across various regions of England, suggesting its spread beyond Yorkshire. One notable individual from this period was John Hibbs, a merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, who lived from 1524 to 1598.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, several individuals with the Hibbs surname made their mark in various fields. Robert Hibbs (1619-1684) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Clare College, Cambridge. Another notable figure was Elizabeth Hibbs (1677-1721), a Quaker writer and preacher from Pennsylvania, who was one of the earliest published female authors in the American colonies.
In the 19th century, the Hibbs surname gained prominence in both England and the United States. William Hibbs (1801-1878) was an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes. Meanwhile, in the United States, Henry Hibbs (1807-1886) was a successful businessman and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Kentucky.
Other individuals with the Hibbs surname who left their mark on history include George Hibbs (1876-1945), a Canadian professional ice hockey player and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and Gerry Hibbs (1909-1964), an American baseball player and coach who spent several seasons in Major League Baseball.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Hibbs
Among Census respondents with the surname Hibbs, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Two or More Races (1.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Hibbs bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Hibbs surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- Two or more races1.5%
- Black or African American1.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Hibbs surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #5,767 | #6,134 | -6.4% |
| Count | 5,499 | 5,585 | 1.6% |
| Per 100K | 2.04 | 1.89 | -7.4% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Hibbs bearers went from 5,499 to 5,585 (+1.6% change). The surname moved down 367 positions in the national ranking, going from #5,767 to #6,134.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Hibbs
FAQ
Hibbs surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Hibbs?
The surname Hibbs holds position #6,134 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 6,478 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 1.89 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Hibbs surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Hibbs, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.2%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.8%) and Two or More Races (1.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.