Surname Gib - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'G'
Gib: What does the surname Gib mean?
The surname Gib is of Scottish origin and is derived from the first name Gibb, that is a short form of the personal name Gilbert. Gilbert comes from the Old Norman name "Gislebert," which means "bright pledge." Thus, indirectly, the surname Gib or Gibb can be interpreted as the "son of Gilbert" or the "son of the bright pledge." It is also found in England and other parts of the UK, mostly in regions that had historical Scottish connections. Like many last names that originated from first names, Gib is likely to have started as a distinctive way of identifying individuals in larger communities, by referring to them through their father's (in this case, Gilbert's) name. Over time, this method of identification became hereditary and evolved into a surname. Apart from its UK associations, variations of this surname can also be found in other cultures and languages.
Order DNA origin analysisGib: Where does the name Gib come from?
The surname Gib is derived from a short form of the given name Gilbert. It is primarily English in origin and dates back to the Middle Ages. The name Gilbert was brought to England by the Normans in the 11th century and from there it became widespread. It was derived from the Germanic ‘gisil’ (meaning ‘pledge’) and ‘berht’ (meaning ‘bright’ or ‘famous’). In the Middle Ages, it was a common practice to create pet names or nicknames by shortening a given name and adding suffixes. Thus, the name Gib was created from Gilbert.
Today, the surname Gib is most prevalent in the United States, followed by England. Within the United States, the largest number of people with the last name Gib live in Michigan. Other significant populations are in Hawaii, California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and the Carolinas. Despite this, it still remains a fairly uncommon surname. Due to the migration patterns in history, smaller concentrations of the surname may also be found in Australia, Canada, and other former British colonies.
Variations of the surname Gib
The surname Gib is relatively rare and could be of English or Germanic origins. Variants of this surname can include Gibbs, Gibb, Gibby, Gipp, Gippes, Gibbes, and Gippy. In some cases, it might have evolved from longer surnames such as Gibson or Gilbert.
Gibbs is the most common variant, which is a patronymic form meaning 'son of Gibb'. Gibb is a medieval nickname for the given name Gilbert. Gibbes and Gibby are less common variants but follow similar naming patterns.
Spelling variations in surnames occurred in old times due to lack of standardized spellings and translation between languages. As people moved to new regions and countries, the pronunciation and spelling of their names often changed to fit the local language. Therefore, the spelling of the name might have been recorded differently based on the language of the particular region.
In German speaking countries, variants such as Gipp or Gipps can occur. This is because in German the "b" sound can sometimes be interchangeable with a "p" sound.
While these variants are possible, it's important to remember that surnames can often be unique to a specific family lineage and regional ancestry determines their variations.
Famous people with the name Gib
- Mel Gibb: British pop star and younger brother of Bee Gee's singer, Barry Gibb
- Alastair Gib: British singer and songwriter
- Malcolm Gibb: British professional football player
- Edith Gib: American silent film actress
- Nelson Gib: American stuntman and actor
- Stephen Gib: English actor, director, and writer
- Robert Gib: Scottish actor and comedian
- Casey Gib: American baseball player
- Paul Gib: Dutch footballer
- David Gib: Canadian actor and director