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

Libbey, 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 Libbey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Libbey in America

Libbey is the 21750th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Libbey surname appeared 1,196 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 Libbey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Libbey 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 Libbey

The surname Libbey is believed to have originated in England, likely derived from the Old English word "leofa," which meant "dear" or "beloved." It may also have roots in the Old English word "lib," meaning "to remain" or "to live." The name first appeared in historical records in the late 11th century, after the Norman Conquest of England.

One of the earliest known references to the name Libbey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is recorded as "Leobei" or "Leofei" in various regions, including Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Libbey emerged in several variations, such as Libby, Libbie, and Lybby. These spelling variations likely stemmed from local dialects and the inconsistent use of scribes in recording names. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Hampshire.

One notable figure with the surname Libbey was John Libbey, a wealthy wool merchant who lived in the city of Norwich during the 15th century. He is recorded as having donated significant funds for the construction of the city's famous Erpingham Gate in 1420.

In the 16th century, the surname Libbey was associated with several prominent families in the English counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire. One such family was the Libbeys of Nailsea, who were influential landowners and merchants in the region.

Another notable individual with the surname Libbey was Sir William Libbey, a member of the English gentry who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He served as a magistrate and held various positions in local government in Somerset.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Libbey surname continued to be found across various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Hampshire. The name was also associated with several place names, such as Libbey Hill in Somerset and Libbey Green in Gloucestershire.

In the 19th century, the Libbey surname gained prominence with the birth of Edward Drummond Libbey (1854-1925), an American industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Libbey Glass Company in Toledo, Ohio. He played a significant role in the development of the glass industry in the United States.

Throughout its history, the surname Libbey has been associated with various professions, including merchants, landowners, industrialists, and entrepreneurs. While the name has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Libbey

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

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

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

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