Gibbens

This unusual and interesting name has two possible origins, the first and most generally applicable being as a patronymic form of the medieval male given name Gibbin, itself a diminutive of Gibb, a common medieval pet form of the personal name Gilbert. This was a Norman personal name "Gislebert", introduced into England at the time of the Conquest (1066) and composed of the Germanic elements "gisil", meaning hostage or noble youth, and "Berht", bright, famous. The second possible source is from the Germanic personal name "Gebwine", composed of the elements "geba", gift and "wire" friend. In the modern idiom the surname can be found as "Gibbons", "Gibbens" and "Gubbins". On January 24th 1613 Richard, son of James Gubbins, was christened in St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate, London and on February 27th 1619 Elizabeth Gubbins and Robart Wilson were married in St. James, Clerkenwell, London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Gibiun (Gibbewin), which was dated 1176, in the "Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.