Surname Gibbels - Meaning and Origin

Gibbels: What does the surname Gibbels mean?

The surname Gibbels is of German origin and is a variation of the name Gibbel. It is derived from a Middle High German term containing the element ‘gibil’ which is related to the word ‘gibelen’ which means ‘to give’. It is thought to have originally been an occupational surname used to denote a man who gave out charity donations.

Another possible origin of the name Gibbels is a habitational name for a person who lived at a place called Gibbel or one of its derivatives. This place name has variations such as ‘Gibbelle’ or ‘Gibbel’ in Germany and Austria. It derived from the Old German word ‘Gibal’, which meant ‘a boundary’.

Gibbel is also used as an anglicised version of the Irish surname ‘MacGibell’ or ‘McConnor’. In this instance, the name is derived from the old Gaelic word ‘Mac’ meaning ‘son’ and the name Conner, or ‘Tanister’, which meant ‘chieftain’.

The name Gibbels is primarily found in north-western Europe, particularly Germany and Austria. However, there has been a worldwide diffusion of the name, with immigrants bearing the name settling in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Gibbels: Where does the name Gibbels come from?

The last name Gibbels is quite popular in many different countries across the world, though largely concentrated in German-speaking countries and regions. The most notable distribution of Gibbels families is centered around Germany, especially the German-speaking areas of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein to the south. Other regions of Europe with relatively high numbers of Gibbels families include Poland, the Czech Republic, and France. Across the Atlantic Ocean, Gibbels is also quite common in the United States and Canada, likely due to German-speaking immigrants settling in these regions.

In the U.S., the vast majority of Gibbels families live in states with large German-speaking populations, including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York. Otherpopular states, such as California and Michigan also have substantial Gibbels populations. Similarly, in Canada, Ontario and Alberta are the two provinces where Gibbels family names are most common.

Given its prevalence in German-speaking countries, the Gibbels last name is likely derived from Germanic roots. One Germanic gentry house even bears the Gibbels name, the House of Gibbels (Haus Gibbels). The house is primarily concentrated in the southwestern region of Germany and stretches as far east as Silesia. While the Gibbels families today are not necessarily connected with the House of Gibbels, it’s quite likely that some of them share a common ancestry with the House. In any case, Gibbels remains a common and widespread last name today.

Variations of the surname Gibbels

Gibbels is an uncommon surname, but it derives from the Germanic personal name Gibbo or Gibelin. Other variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Gibb, Gibbels, Gibbel, Gibbole, Gybbel, Gibblog, Gibblig, Gibbs, Gibbil, Gibble, and Gibbler.

Gibb is a diminutive of Gibbo or Gibelin, usually given to a child as an affectionate nickname. It is also an English surname, derived from the name Socrates, which was pronounced Sockrit in early English. The original form of the name was Gibbald, very popular in the 12th century, meaning “bold in war”. This spelling was eventually changed to Gibb when it was passed down through the generations.

Gibbels is a variant of Gibb, which is derived from the Middle High German name "gibbel", meaning “trickster” or “brook”. It is considered to be a habitat name and is also found in places where the original family lived, such as Germany, France, and England.

Gibbel is another form of Gibb, derived from the Old German personal name "Gibilo", meaning “one who bargains” or “one who helps”. It is related to the English surname Gibson.

Gibbole is a variant of "gibbels", derived from the French name "Gibbaud", meaning “enthusiastic” or “strong”. This name is related to the German Gibbels and is found mainly in Germany.

Gybbel is a variant of "Gibb", also derived from the Old German personal name "Gibilo". It is related to the English surname Gaskin.

Gibblog is a variation of Gibb, derived from the Low German word “gibbeln”, which means “to bargain” or “to tease”.

Gibblig and Gibbs are variants of Gibb, with no known origin.

Gibbil and Gibbler are similar variants which are derived from the Middle High German word “gibbelen”, which means “to bicker” or “to chatter”.

Finally, Gibble is the Swedish variant of Gibbels, derived from the Middle Swedish word “gibble”, meaning “high”, “tall” or “elevated”. It is related to the English surname Gibbons.

Famous people with the name Gibbels

• Wilhelmina Gibbels-Beeckman, Dutch fashion designer
• John Gibbels, American artist
• William H. Gibbels, American politician
• Claus Grimm Gibbels, German jurist
• Johann Augustin Gibbels, German jurist and a botanist
• Ema Louise Gibbels-Hindenberg, German patriot
• Jean Pierre Gibbels, Belgian painter
• Christopher Gibbels, American teacher
• Danyel Gibbels, Dutch professional footballer
• Rodrigo Gibbels, Brazilian actor
• Richard Gibbels, German theater director
• William Gibbels, Canadian football coach
• Hayley Gibbels, English female professional poker player
• Emily Gibbels, British singer-songwriter

Other surnames

Gibbes