Surname McKibben - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McKibben: What does the surname McKibben mean?
The surname McKibben is of Scottish origin derived from the Gaelic personal name 'Mac Giobuin' which means "son of Gibb". Gibb is a Scottish short form of Gilbert, meaning "bright pledge". The prefix 'Mac' in the surname suggests a patronymic name, that is, it shows a literal or figurative relationship of a person to a reputed ancestor. Thus, McKibben is a name that represents lineage or ancestral characteristics. The name is most commonly found in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The variations of this surname could be McKibbin, McKibben, Mcgibbon, and so on. Like many surnames, over centuries the spellings might have changed due to migration, local dialects, clerical errors, or other reasons.
Order DNA origin analysisMcKibben: Where does the name McKibben come from?
The surname McKibben is of Scottish and Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Giobúin", comprised of "Mac" meaning "son of", and "Giobúin", a personal name derived from "giob" meaning "gobbet" (a piece or lump of something). So, it could possibly mean 'son of the carver' or 'son of the biter.'
This surname originated from the Scottish region of Galloway and during the Middle Ages, families began to migrate to Ireland during the Plantation of Ulster, thus becoming commonly seen in the northern part of Ireland. From there, it spread with Irish diaspora to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.
Today, the surname McKibben is most common in the United States, particularly within states with a high population of descendants of Scottish-Irish immigrants, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and northern parts of the New England region. The surname remains popular in Northern Ireland and Scotland as well. It might also be found in English-speaking Commonwealth countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand due to historic migration patterns.
Variations of the surname McKibben
The surname McKibben could have several variants, usually influenced by the cultures and countries that the name traveled through over time. Common variations could include MacKibben, MacKibbin, McKibbin, and Mckibbin.
Another variant could be MacGibbon, as the term 'Mac' in Gaelic typically means 'son of', and Gibbon can be an alternative form of the personal name Gibb, a short form of Gilbert.
This surname could also be expressed with the 'Mc' replaced with 'Mac', resulting in names like MacKibben or MacGibbon, since both Mc and Mac have the same meaning.
Furthermore, given the way sounds in names can change, or perhaps could have been recorded wrongly in the past, the surname could also potentially exist as McKibbon, McKiben, or McKibban. Mistakes in transcription, as well as changes due to regional dialects and accents, could lead to a wide range of variations in the spelling of surnames.
Every variant of the McKibben surname shares the same origin, tracing back to ancestors living in Scotland during the Middle Ages. In short, even though there might be slight differences in spelling or pronunciation, these surnames are likely connected.
Famous people with the name McKibben
- Bill McKibben: American author, environmentalist, journalist, and professor
- Alicia McKibben: Canadian actress
- David McKibben: Australian poet
- Kevin McKibben: American sprinter
- Madison McKibben: American model
- Robert McKibben: American musician
- Richard McKibben: British composer
- Mike McKibbon: British Musician
- Conor McKibben: Former Australian Rugby League player
- Skip McKibbin: American golfer
- Gary McKibben: American baseball pitcher
- Wesley McKibben: Canadian Football League coach
- Jim McKibben: American college basketball coach
- Tony McKibben: American Water Polo coach
- Herb McKibben: Canadian diver