UK surname
An English occupational surname for a person who wore a bib as part of their job or uniform.
In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Bibbs surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #22,500 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Worcester Claines and Yardley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bibbs is 101 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
78
Ranked #22,500
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
101 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Bibbs surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Bibbs surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 78 | #22,500 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 96 | #23,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1997 | modern | 43 | #33,361 |
| 1998 | modern | 37 | #34,149 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 32 | #34,862 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 30 | #35,526 |
| 2007 | modern | 29 | #35,725 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Worcester Claines, Yardley, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Llanguick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Worcester Claines | Worcestershire |
| 3 | Yardley | Warwickshire |
| 4 | Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick | Worcestershire |
| 5 | Llanguick | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Bibbs surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Bibbs, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Bibbs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Bibbs household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Bibbs is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bibbs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Bibbs, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Bibbs is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "bibban," which means "to drink" or "to imbibe." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked in a tavern or inn, or perhaps someone who had a fondness for drinking.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bibbs can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a certain Thomas Bibbs is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name appears in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, where a Robert Bibbs is listed. The spelling variations during this time included Bybbe, Bibbe, and Bibbes.
The Bibbs surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Bibbs Farm in Worcestershire and Bibbs Hall in Staffordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and spread of the surname over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Bibbs throughout history include:
1. John Bibbs (c. 1550 - 1620), an English merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. 2. Mary Bibbs (c. 1630 - 1690), a prominent Quaker from Warwickshire who faced persecution for her religious beliefs. 3. William Bibbs (1765 - 1843), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Military General Service Medal. 4. Elizabeth Bibbs (1825 - 1892), an English author and poet known for her romantic novels and nature poetry. 5. James Bibbs (1880 - 1958), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London during the early 20th century.
Overall, the surname Bibbs has a long and rich history in England, dating back to the medieval period. Its origins are closely tied to the Old English language and may have referred to an occupation or personal characteristic related to drinking or taverns.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bibbs surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Worcestershire leads with 22 Bibbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Worcestershire | 22 | 23.35x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 1.68x |
| Herefordshire | 9 | 30.42x |
| Warwickshire | 8 | 4.40x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 2.46x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 3.98x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 2.12x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 1.29x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.64x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.22x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.70x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whistones in Worcestershire leads with 14 Bibbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2058.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Whistones | 14 | 2058.82x |
| Ledbury | 9 | 882.35x |
| Llanguick | 5 | 222.22x |
| Rotherham | 5 | 124.07x |
| Bilston | 4 | 84.75x |
| Sutton Coldfield | 4 | 209.42x |
| Warley Wigorn | 4 | 1333.33x |
| Aston | 3 | 5.99x |
| Cheltenham | 3 | 27.47x |
| Maryhill | 3 | 65.65x |
| Branstone | 2 | 833.33x |
| Claines | 2 | 77.22x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 2 | 13.76x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 2 | 76.92x |
| Wath On Dearne | 2 | 139.86x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.65x |
| Bodmin | 1 | 74.07x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.60x |
| Ecclesfield | 1 | 19.08x |
| Hanley Castle | 1 | 178.57x |
| Harwich St Nicholas | 1 | 90.91x |
| Heckmondwike | 1 | 43.48x |
| Horton In Bradford | 1 | 8.95x |
| Litchurch | 1 | 21.98x |
| Yardley | 1 | 41.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Bibbs surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Bibbs surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Bibbs households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Accountant Assistant To ? | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Auctioneer | 1 |
| Auctioneers Clerk | 1 |
| Bundler Of Iron | 1 |
| Carver & Gilder | 1 |
| Coach Builders Clerk | 1 |
| Coach Trimmer | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Conical Spring Maker | 1 |
| Cook & Genl Servt | 1 |
| Daur Of Housemaid | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Formerly Inspector Of Nuisances | 1 |
| General Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Genl Labourer | 1 |
| Gun Barrel Filer | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Inn Keeper | 1 |
| Journeyman Saddler | 1 |
| Junior Railway Clerk | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Landscape Artist | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Nailer | 1 |
| Neyler Tin P Works | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Plate Layer | 1 |
| Plate Layers Wife | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Sadler | 1 |
| Safe Maker | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Stationers Assistant | 1 |
| Waiter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Bibbs surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Bibbs a modern rank of #36,254.
An English occupational surname for a person who wore a bib as part of their job or uniform.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Bibbs bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.