Gibbs
What is the origin of the last name Gibbs?
Meaning and origin
The last name Gibbs is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name "Gib," a diminutive form of Gilbert.
The longer story
The last name Gibbs is of English origin and is classified as a patronymic surname. It is derived from the given name Gib, a diminutive form of the name Gilbert.
One such figure is Josiah Willard Gibbs, an American theoretical physicist and chemist who made significant contributions to the field of statistical mechanics. He is known for his formulation of the Gibbs energy and the Gibbs equilibrium equation, which have great applications in thermodynamics.
He achieved great success as the head coach of the Washington Redskins, leading the team to three Super Bowl victories.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#515
Gibbs was the 515th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 65,064 people, about 22 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Gibbs
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Gibbs is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.