DABBS
The surname Dabbs is of English origin and is classified as a patronymic name, deriving from the medieval given name Dobbe, a pet form of the personal name Robert. The formation of this surname therefore indicates “son of Robert” or a familiar reference to a man known as Dobbe.
The medieval personal name Dobbe is itself a diminutive of Robert, a Germanic name composed of the elements hrod, meaning “renown”, and berht, meaning “bright” or “famous”. Consequently, the original given name carried the sense of a “renowned and bright” man, a meaning that is inherited by the surname Dabbs.
Historical records show that the surname Dabbs was largely concentrated in the southern counties of England, particularly in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Nevertheless, it also appears with some frequency in Northern England and the Midlands, indicating a wider geographical spread within the country during the early modern period.
The earliest documented spelling of the family name appears in the year 1520, with the marriage of Henry Dabbe to Elizabeth Hopper in London. This event occurred during the reign of King Henry VIII, who ruled from 1509 until 1547. Other early records include John Dabbe, mentioned in the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk, and Elizabeth Dabbs, who married Hugh Eglesfelde on 18 July 1544 at St. Matthew's, Friday Street, London. In the same vein, Thoms Dabbs was recorded as married to Johanna Greatholder on 18 January 1581 at Eccleshall, Staffordshire, and later christened on 23 November 1606 at St. Gregory by St. Paul, London.
There is also a record of Thomas Dabb, an emigrant who departed aboard the ship Alexander bound for Barbados on 2 May 1635. The specified spelling of his surname varies, demonstrating the fluidity of orthographic conventions in the period.
The surname has been recorded under several orthographic variants. These include Dabs, Dabbes, Dabbs, Dabes, and others, reflecting the lack of a standardised spelling before the advent of modern bureaucratic practices.
Typical given names associated with the Dabbs surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- Jason
- John
- Jonathan
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Alison
- Angela
- Catherine
- Christine
- Helen
- Joanne
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Susan
- Tracy
Similar and related surnames
- Daab
- Dab
- Dabas
- Dabasia
- Dabb
- Dabba
- Dabbagh
- Dabbas
- Dabbe
- Dabbous
- Dabboussi
- Dabby
- Dabe
- Dabes
- Dabies
- Dabis
- Dabos
- Dabs
- Daubuz
- Deab
- Debaes
- Debaise
- Debas
- Debass
- Debb
- Debbas
- Debbs
- Debes
- Debiase
- Debiasi
- Debiasio
- Debois
- Deboise
- Deboos
- Debos
- Debose
- Deboyce
- Deboys
- Debs
- Debues
- Debus
- Debuse
- Dibbs
- Dibiase
- Dibiasi
- Dibiasio
- Dibosa
- Dibs
- Dobbas
- Dobbs
- Dobes
- Dobias
- Dobies
- Dobiesz
- Dobis
- Dobos
- Dobosz
- Dobozi
- Dobs
- Dobso
- Dubaissi
- Dubas
- Dubasia
- Dubbs
- Dubes
- Dubis
- Dubois
- Duboise
- Dubos
- Dubose
- Duboys
- Dubs
- Dubuis
- Dubus
- Dybas
- Dybus
- Tabas
- Tabassi
- Tabbs
- Tabios
- Tabis
- Tabisz
- Taboas
- Tabois
- Tabus
- Tahbaz
- Tebbs
- Tebs
- Teubes
- Tibbs
- Tibos
- Tibs
- Tibus
- Tobais
- Tobes
- Tobias
- Tobiass
- Tobiasz
- Tobis
- Tubbs
- Tubis
- Tubs
- Tybus
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Dabbs in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Dabbs are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Jammy Dodger.
There are approximately 1,202 people named Dabbs in the UK. That makes it roughly the 6,426th most common surname in Britain. Around 18 in a million people in Britain are named Dabbs.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
