Surname Humby - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Humby: What does the surname Humby mean?
The surname Humby is of English origin and has roots in the region's historical and geographical structure. It is classified as a habitation name, adopted by people who hailed from a place named Humby or possibly from a place displaying similar traits. The term Humby, in old English, is derived from the words 'humme’, which refers to a low-lying ground or a meadow, and ‘bi’, meaning a settlement or village. Thus, Humby may signify a "settlement in a low-lying meadow". Over time, the name came to identify individuals or families that came from or lived near such regions. Like many surnames from this period, spelling variations such as Hummaby, Hummavy, Hunby, and others were common due to the lack of standardized spelling. Traceable records of this surname date back to the early 13th century in England.
Order DNA origin analysisHumby: Where does the name Humby come from?
The surname Humby is of English origin, specifically from Old English. It is derived from the name of a village or suburb, possibly Humber in East Yorkshire, or a now lost place thought to have been located somewhere in Northern England. The name Humber itself is of unknown origin but probably from a Celtic word meaning 'river'.
The name Humby suggests a person who hailed from such a region. In the Old English language, place names were quite descriptive and often referred to local landmarks like rivers, hills, or trees, or spoke of the resources that could be found in the area, such as specific kinds of fish or wood.
Today, the surname Humby isn't very common, but most of the people who bear it likely live in the United Kingdom, the cradle of the name. While there is not a concentrated region in which the surname is particularly prevalent, it may also be found scattered in regions like the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand due to migration patterns since the 17th century.
Variations of the surname Humby
The surname Humby is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was first discovered in the county of Yorkshire, England. It is derived from a place name, possibly Humber, a river in England, suggesting that the original bearers of the surname lived near this river or were associated with it in some manner.
Variations and spellings of the last name Humby can include Humber, Humbery, Humbury, Humberd, Humberston, Humberstone, and Humbar. Surnames can often be spelled differently based on location and regional dialects, phonetic spellings, or even due to illiteracy. So, it is not uncommon for a surname to have several variants.
Looking specifically at how "Humby" might have changed over time, earlier forms could have been "Humbi" or "Humbie". As a relatively rare surname, further variations are less common.
As for surnames of the same origin, those bearing a close resemblance to Humby or its variants include other names derived from geographical features in the same area, such as Hill, Dale, or Beck. However, these are significantly more common surnames in the UK.
Famous people with the name Humby
- John Humby: A Canadian actor and singer who was part of the Canadian Prime Time series "Ready or Not" and "The Melting Pot".
- Ben Humby: An English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club.
- Charles Humby: An Australian engineer who headed up the design of Sydney Opera House.
- Robert Humby: A Canadian politician who represented the Saskatchewan Party in the Saskatoon West electoral district from 2020 to 2021.
- Christopher Humby: An English rugby union player who represented England in the World Cup.
- Steven Humby: A musician and composer who was a member of the musical group The Humby Project.
- Dave Humby: An English footballer who played for Leeds United and Victoria Athletic.
- Adrian Humby: A British archer who won the gold medal for archery at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
- Carl Humby: A British television producer responsible for shows such as "Doctor Who" and "The Avengers".
- Mary Anne Humby: A British classical pianist, organist, and conductor.