Gibbs History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Gibbs

What does the name Gibbs mean?

The ancestors of the first family to use the name Gibbs lived among the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The name Gibbs is derived from Gibb, which is a pet form of the personal name Gilbert. 1 2 3

This name is derived from the Old English forenames Gislberht and Gislbeorht, which mean bright hostage. 4

Early Origins of the Gibbs family

The surname Gibbs was first found in Inverness-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) divided between the present day Scottish Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles.

Entries for the family are quite late by typical standards. Records in the 16th century include: "Dauid Gyb was member of assize at Cupar in 1521, Elizabeth Gib is recorded in Craigmakerane in 1585, and Robert Gib was burgess of Linlithgow in 1622." 2

Early History of the Gibbs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gibbs research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1521, 1585, 1603, 1604, 1611, 1622, 1651, 1654, 1656, 1677, 1681, 1682, 1689, 1724, 1754 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gibbs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gibbs Spelling Variations

The arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. Gibbs has been spelled Gibb, Gibbe, Gibbs, Gibbes and others.

Early Notables of the Gibbs family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was William Gibbes (died 1689), an English merchant and politician, Member of Parliament for Suffolk (1654-1656), High Sheriff of Suffolk in 1677.Frederick Gibb (d. 1681), was a miscellaneous writer, son of Bernard Gibb, advocate and was born at Dunfermline, studied medicine, and took, 9 Sept. 1651, the degree of doctor at the university of Valence. He spent his life abroad. He died 27 March...
Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gibbs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gibbs World Ranking

In the United States, the name Gibbs is the 414^th most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Gibbs is ranked the 383^rd most popular surname with an estimated 9,726 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Gibbs is the 206^th popular surname with an estimated 2,712 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Gibbs as 306^th with 19,800 people. 8

Migration of the Gibbs family to Ireland

Some of the Gibbs family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gibbs migration to the United States +

This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name Gibbs:

Gibbs Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Gibbs, who landed in Virginia in 1619 9
John Gibbs, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 9
Francis Gibbs, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Seaflower" 9
Giles Gibbs, who landed in Massachusetts in 1633 9
Henry Gibbs, who landed in Boston in 1633 aboard the ship "Elizabeth Bonaventure", bound for Hingham, Massachusetts 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gibbs Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Abraham Gibbs, a Jacobite Loyalist sold into slavery in Maryland in 1760
John Gibbs, who landed in America in 1760 9
Joseph Gibbs, who arrived in America in 1760 9

Gibbs Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ruth Gibbs, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 9
James Gibbs, who arrived in New York in 1818 9
Thomas F Gibbs, who landed in New York in 1835 9
Andrew Gibbs, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1841 9
Mrs. Gibbs, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gibbs migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Gibbs Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Edw Gibbs, who arrived in Quebec in 1784

Gibbs Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Corenelius Gibbs, aged 35, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Margaret" from London, England
Patrick Gibbs, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1843
Mr. Frances Gibbs, aged 1 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Virgilia" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle on August 25th, 1847 10
Henry Gibbs, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
Charles B Gibbs, who landed in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862

Gibbs Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Miss A Gibbs, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Gibbs migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Gibbs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Gibbs, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. George Gibbs, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Miss Kezia Kerenhappuck Gibbs, (b. 1808), aged 25, English maid who was convicted in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England for life for robbery, transported aboard the "Buffalo" on 4th May 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, she died in 1887 13
Mr. George Gibbs, (b. 1807), aged 30, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. John Gibbs, (b. 1803), aged 35, English farm labourer who was convicted in Buckinghamshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1843 in and accident 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gibbs migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Gibbs Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James Gibbs, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bombay 16
James Gibbs, aged 29, a cabinet maker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
Charlotte Gibbs, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Arab" in 1841
Isaac Gibbs, aged 23, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Bolton
James Gibbs, aged 35, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship "Bolton"
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Gibbs migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 17

Gibbs Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Mary Gibbs, who landed in Jamaica in 1684 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Gibbs (post 1700) +

Coy Randall Gibbs (1972-2022), American NASCAR driver, assistant coach with the Washington Redskins, and co-owner of Joe Gibbs Racing, son of Joe Gibbs
Drew Gibbs (1962-2021), American football head coach of the Kean University Cougars during the 1989 season, where he compiled a record of 3–7, inducted into the New Jersey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014
Leonard William "Doc" Gibbs Jr. (1948-2021), American percussionist who toured with artists such as Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, Bob James, Ricki Lee Jones, Al Jarreau, Grover Washington, Jr., and many more
Jonathan Clarkson Gibbs II (1821-1874), American Presbyterian minister and a prominent officeholder during Reconstruction, the 1st Black Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Instruction of Florida
Timothy Gibbs (b. 1967), American Emmy Award nominated director, actor, producer, and screenwriter
Robert Lane Gibbs (1971-2009), American politician, 28th White House Press Secretary (2009-2011)
Oliver Wolcott Gibbs (1822-1908), American chemist, best known for performing the first electrogravimetric analyses
Marla Gibbs (b. 1931), five-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee
George Gibbs (1815-1873), American geologist and ethnologist
William Francis Gibbs (1886-1967), American naval architect and marine engineer, designer of the ocean liner SS United States
... (Another 88 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Gibbs family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mrs. Brucie Gibbs (1901-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Wellington, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 18

Fraterville mine

Mr. Frank Gibbs (d. 1902), African Welsh coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 19

HMS Hood

Mr. Charles W E Gibbs (b. 1920), English Leading Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Chertsey, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 20

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Edward George Gibbs, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 21
Mr. Colin Gibbs, British Musician, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21
Mr. Colin Gibbs, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 21

HMS Repulse

Mr. George Gibbs, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 22
Mr. William A Gibbs, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22

HMS Royal Oak

Athur R.F. Gibbs, British Blacksmith with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 23

The Gibbs Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Tenax propositi
Motto Translation: Firm of purpose.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 30)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/buffalo
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. (Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm).
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html