CLUBB
Clubb is a surname of English origin, with its roots in the Old English word clabb, meaning a heavy stick or cudgel. It is generally understood that the name originally functioned as a nickname, given to a person who was seen as strong or sturdy, or possibly to an individual who employed a club as a weapon.
The name subsequently evolved into a hereditary surname. Individuals bearing the surname Clubb are found primarily in England and Scotland, with early prominence in the Cambridge area of England. The surname has been recorded in several variants, including Club, Clubb, and the rare spelling Clubbe.
In medieval times, Clubb also functioned as an occupational surname. It denoted a clubber—a maker of clubs used for warlike purposes. These clubs were designed for close combat and often studded with iron to increase their weight and effectiveness. In tournaments clubs were frequently preferred to swords or battle axes, as they were easier to use and better suited for unhorsing an opponent. The club-maker, by extension, manufactured other weapons and implements, and was regarded as a prominent member of society.
Historical records illustrate the early prevalence of the surname. The earliest known entries appear in the 12th century, with Gilbert Clobbe recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridge in 1166 and Stephen Clubbe in the Cambridge Pipe Rolls of 1204. A later mention occurs in the Assize Rolls of Cambridge in 1260 with Walter le Clubbere. These entries indicate an early concentration of the surname in the Cambridge area.
It is worth noting that, by the ancient laws of England, all adult males between the ages of fifteen and sixty‑five were required to be provided by their local lord or sheriff with at least a knife, staff or club, and to participate in archery practice every Sunday. The prominence of the Clubb surname in the 12th and 13th centuries may therefore reflect both occupational expertise and the social requirements of the time.
The surname Clubber is now considered extinct, while the forms Club, Clubb, and Clubbe persist, predominantly within England and Scotland. The historical trajectory of the name reflects a combination of personal characteristic, occupational identity, and regional legal frameworks in medieval Britain.
Typical given names associated with the Clubb surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- George
- James
- John
- Matthew
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- William
Female
- Anne
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Jane
- Lesley
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sally
- Sandra
- Sarah
- Sheila
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Clubbs
- Clubs
- Calub
- Kluba
- Club
- Clubbe
- Clube
- Calab
- Calabi
- Caleb
- Clabbie
- Colb
- Colbie
- Collibee
- Galab
- Galba
- Galbo
- Galib
- Gallab
- Galuba
- Ghalab
- Ghaleb
- Ghalebi
- Ghalib
- Ghallab
- Glab
- Glaba
- Gleba
- Glebe
- Glob
- Globa
- Globe
- Gluba
- Glubb
- Golab
- Golabi
- Golaub
- Golba
- Gollob
- Gollub
- Golob
- Golooba
- Golub
- Goolab
- Goolaub
- Gulab
- Gulba
- Gulbe
- Kalab
- Kalb
- Kaleb
- Kalib
- Kaluba
- Kelb
- Kelbie
- Kielb
- Kilb
- Kilba
- Kilbe
- Kilbee
- Killbe
- Klabou
- Kleb
- Kleba
- Klebba
- Klebe
- Kleboe
- Kolb
- Kolba
- Kolbe
- Kulba
- Kulbe
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Clubb in...
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Morse
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Semaphore
There are approximately 1,074 people named Clubb in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,988th most common surname in Britain. Around 16 in a million people in Britain are named Clubb.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Clubb
- Tony Clubb - Rugby league player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.