UK surname
A surname originating from the Scottish/Gaelic word "giob" meaning "piece" or "fragment".
In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Gibs surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #28,285 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Portsmouth, Portsea, Blandford Town, Pimperne and Haddiscoe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Gibs is 126 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.9%.
1881 census count
38
Ranked #28,285
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
126 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Gibs surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Gibs 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 | 107 | #16,402 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 38 | #28,285 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 41 | #28,802 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 9 | #37,189 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 4 | #38,078 |
| 2006 | modern | 4 | #38,130 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 8 | #37,806 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Portsmouth, Portsea, Blandford Town, Pimperne, Haddiscoe, St Marylebone and Laugharne. 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 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 2 | Blandford Town, Pimperne | Dorset |
| 3 | Haddiscoe | Norfolk |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Laugharne | Carmarthenshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Gibs 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 Gibs, 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 Gibs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Gibs 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, Gibs 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 Gibs is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Gibs, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GIBS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a variation of the name Gibbs, which itself is derived from the medieval given name Gilbert, a name of Germanic origin meaning "bright pledge" or "brilliant vow."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GIBS can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex, a collection of legal documents from the 13th century. In this record, a certain Robert Gibs is mentioned as being involved in a land transaction.
Another early reference to the name GIBS is found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex from the year 1327, which lists a John Gibs as a taxpayer in the county.
In the 15th century, the surname GIBS appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a William Gibs is recorded as a tenant farmer.
One notable bearer of the surname GIBS was Sir John Gibs (1492-1556), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, England. He served as Sheriff of Bristol in 1532 and was knighted by King Henry VIII in recognition of his generous support for various charitable causes.
Another individual of historical significance was Elizabeth Gibs (1589-1662), an English Puritan writer and religious scholar. She authored several influential works on theology and was considered a leading figure in the Puritan movement of her time.
In the 18th century, the name GIBS was associated with the village of Gibside in County Durham, England. The Gibbs family, who held the title of Lords of Gibside, were prominent landowners in the area and played a significant role in the development of the local community.
One member of this family, George Gibs (1720-1794), was a renowned architect and garden designer. He is best known for his work on the Gibside Estate, which included the construction of the grand Gibside Chapel and the creation of the impressive Gibside landscape gardens.
In the 19th century, the surname GIBS was carried by several notable figures, including Sir Samuel Gibs (1810-1887), a British naval officer and explorer who made significant contributions to the mapping of the Arctic regions.
Additionally, Josiah Willard Gibs (1839-1903) was an American scientist and mathematician who made groundbreaking advances in the field of chemical thermodynamics and is credited with developing the Gibbs free energy concept.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Gibs 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. Hampshire leads with 5 Gibs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 5 | 6.59x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.35x |
| Shropshire | 4 | 12.50x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 3.67x |
| Dorset | 3 | 12.34x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 6.01x |
| Sussex | 3 | 4.80x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.46x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.54x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 2.91x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 13.50x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.38x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.55x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.92x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.69x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 2.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ellesmere Trench in Shropshire leads with 4 Gibs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ellesmere Trench | 4 | 10000.00x |
| Wonston | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Brighton | 3 | 23.81x |
| Kinson | 3 | 625.00x |
| Pinxton | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Witton Cum Twambrooks | 3 | 410.96x |
| Kirkby | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 15.58x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 12.27x |
| Cheshunt | 1 | 112.36x |
| Clifton | 1 | 27.25x |
| Friern Barnet | 1 | 121.95x |
| Gorleston | 1 | 86.96x |
| Halifax | 1 | 18.55x |
| Hendon | 1 | 75.19x |
| Llanguick | 1 | 86.21x |
| Merthyr Cynog | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Old Byland | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 7.34x |
| Portsea | 1 | 6.72x |
| St Austell | 1 | 69.93x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 5.06x |
| Whaplode Drove | 1 | 1000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Gibs 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 Gibs 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 Gibs households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Builders Lab | 1 |
| Cabin Boy Fisherman | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Errand Girl | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer Daur | 1 |
| General Serv (Dom) | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Lab Ironwks | 1 |
| Landress | 1 |
| London Scollor | 1 |
| Shepard | 1 |
| Steward (Club) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Gibs surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Gibs a modern rank of #36,998.
A surname originating from the Scottish/Gaelic word "giob" meaning "piece" or "fragment".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Gibs 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.