Surname Peebles - Meaning and Origin

Discovering Peebles: A Journey into Ancestry through iGENEA DNA test

Embarking on a journey of ancestral discovery with iGENEA DNA test, I delved into the historical journey of my surname Peebles and discovered unexpected family connections across the world.

N. Peebles

Peebles: What does the surname Peebles mean?

The surname Peebles is of Scottish origin and is derived from the town of Peebles located on the Scottish borders. The name literally translates to “tent village” in Old English and Welsh. The name was originally used to denote someone who hailed from this town. Over the years, the usage evolved into a surname. In Scottish history, this name is associated with the ancient and noble House of Peebles who were significant landowners in the region. Surnames that were derived from place names were often assigned to the local lord or landowner, and later adopted by those who lived or worked on their lands. Hence, the surname Peebles also represents a historical connection with these feudal times. Furthermore, the families with this name were part of Scottish nobility and had their own family crest and coat of arms. Despite its Scottish origins, the name is now found in various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora.

Peebles: Where does the name Peebles come from?

The last name Peebles (or Pebbles) is a Scottish surname with a proud heritage. Today, it remains a popular surname across Scotland and the UK, with the most recent UK census recording more than 5,000 individuals with the name. Despite its popularity, along with many other ancient Scottish surnames, Peebles is not solely confined to Scotland.

Peebles is also still commonly found in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is thought that, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, many individuals bearing the name Peebles emigrated from Scotland to these countries, and the name continues to enjoy success in their diasporic communities.

The name has also spread far and wide due to other factors, including marriage. Today, Peebles is as likely to be a surname of a couple who share a non-Scottish heritage as it is a couple who share a Scottish heritage. And it's not limited to married couples; adoption and step-parenting can also be a factor in bringing the name to other cultures and countries.

Peebles remains a proud surname held by individuals around the world, living testimony to the long reach of traditional Scottish culture. It indicates an enduring legacy of resilient strength, and continues to evoke feelings of pride in those who share it.

Variations of the surname Peebles

The surname Peebles is of English origin and is an habitational name derived from the place of that name, located in Scotland. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Peebles include Pebels, Pebless, Pepples, Peeble, Gibbson, Pebbles, Peble, Peeles, Pebell, Pebil, Pebilson, Peblesy, Pebly, Pickles, Pikles, Pebyles, Pebbly, Peebly, Pebelland, Peppil, Peeples, Gibs, Gibison, Peblesson, Pebleby, Pebyll, Pebley, Pebyl, Peblyr, Pebler, Peblington, and Peblysh.

Although some of these spellings are similar to those of other English surnames, they can all be traced back to the origins of the surname Peebles. The place of that name dispersed the name throughout Scotland, England and eventually, North America. Each of these spellings has derived from the original surname, Peebles, and can be used to trace a family's genealogy.

These forms of Peebles are most commonly associated with the family that originally lived in the vicinity of the town of Peebles in Scotland, but they can also refer to those with similar surnames of English and Irish origin. All spellings of the original surname, Peebles, are significant in tracing a family's genealogical history, as they provide evidence to a family's history prior to their place of settlement.

Famous people with the name Peebles

• Craig Peebles: A Scottish professional golfer who has won multiple titles in amateur competitions, including the Amateur Championship.
• Pete Peebles: An American folk and gospel singer, as well as a songwriter and actor.
• Eric Peebles: A Canadian film producer, screenwriter, and director best known for his groundbreaking work in the slasher-film genre.
• Paul Peebles: An American football player who played in thirteen different NFL seasons between 1977 and 1989.
• Alex Peebles: A former English cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club between 1976 and 1978.
• Cicely Peebles: A Jamaican-American anthropologist and lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania who wrote extensively on Caribbean culture.
• Maisie Peebles: An American model, actress, and director best known for her work in the 1960s and 70s.
• J. R. Peebles: A Scottish actor known for his appearances in shows such as Doctor Who and Robbie Coltrane’s Great Escapes.
• Jim Peebles: A Canadian astrophysicist and cosmologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2019 for his work on understanding the evolution of the Universe.
• Jennifer Peebles: A New Zealand actress and winner of the 2003 New Zealand Film and Television Awards, best known for her role in the movie The Whole of the Moon.

Other surnames

Peebler