Surname Scobey - Meaning and Origin

Scobey: What does the surname Scobey mean?

The surname Scobey is of Scottish origin and comes from an old place name. The original form was probably "Scotsbye", which evolved into "Skottesby", "Scotby", and finally "Scobey". The name "Scotsbye" is derived from the two Old Norse words, "skot", meaning a Scot, and "by", meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests an early connection between Scotland and Scandinavia, possibly due to the Vikings' occupation of certain parts of Scotland in the middle ages. So, the surname Scobey could mean ‘the Scot's farm’ or ‘settlement of the Scot’. Over time, as with many surnames, the spelling has been anglicized and simplified leading to the current form we see now. It is also important to note that the various uses and interpretations over time and space may result in different meanings of the name.

Scobey: Where does the name Scobey come from?

The last name Scobey is most commonly found in the United States. In recent years (as of 2020) there are about 900 people with the last name Scobey living in the US. Most of them are concentrated in Tennessee, with about 350 people. Following Tennessee, the states with the highest concentrations of people with the last name Scobey are Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Texas.

It’s likely that the name Scobey originated in Britain, most likely in Lancashire, England. It’s thought to have been popularized by a family of linen and cotton weavers who established a large and successful family business around 1744. Records of the family’s travels and business dealings throughout Britain show that the family ventured proudly into the new world in the early 1800s, eventually settling in Southern Ohio and West Virginia.

The name Scobey is also found in limited numbers across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and even in countries in Europe such as Ireland, France, and Germany.

Overall, Scobey is quite a rare name; although it has a long and storied history, its popularity remains low. Nevertheless, for those who do bear the name, they can take a certain amount of pride in knowing that their name has been in existence for centuries.

Variations of the surname Scobey

The surname Scobey has many variants, spellings and related surnames with the same origin.

One spelling variant is the surname Scoby. This surname can often be found in New England records and is a variant of the Scottish surname, which is derived from the Middle English word 'skobet', meaning ‘hurdles’.

Scobey can also be spelled as Scobie, Scobey, Scooby, Scoobe, Scoobee and even Scobah. These spellings are often found in the records of Scotland and England. The surname Scobie is thought to have originated in Scotland, specifically from the district of Argyll.

Other surnames that are related to Scobey include Skobey, Scobell, Scovel, Scovert, and Scofield. All of these surnames are derived from the same root, which means ‘hurdles’ and are thought to have been borne by people who made and used those types of hand-crafted products.

In addition to this, there are also a handful of Celtic variations such as Schobai, Schobe, Schobey, Schobie and Schoby. These are thought to be of the same origin as the earlier spellings and can often be found in Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

It is believed that there are also variations of the surname outside of the United Kingdom. One of those being Scobba and Schoba, found in Germany and Italy, respectively.

Overall, the surname Scobey has many spelling variations and related surnames, all of which have the same origin, derived from the Middle English word ‘skobet’, meaning ‘hurdles.’

Famous people with the name Scobey

• Will Scobey-Thal: American film actor, best known for his roles in Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed and as a Bond henchman alongside George Lazenby in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
• Bill Scobey: former basketball coach at Monmouth College and University of Northern Iowa.
• Dave Scobey: American football coach who served as the head football coach at Washington State University from 1957 to 1958.
• Rod Scobey: American college basketball coach who served as the head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1978 to 1990.
• Glenn Scobey Warner: American college football coach affectionately known as "Pop" Warner. He served as the head coach at various institutions, including the University of Georgia, Cornell University, the University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University, and Temple University.
• Martin Scobey: African American pastor and advocate who served as the pastor of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Gainesville, Florida for 47 years.
• Robert Scobey– American jazz trumpet player widely considered to be one of the great cornetists of the 1920s.
• Dan Scobey: former professional American football player who played offensive guard for six seasons with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.
• Bill Scobey: former mayor of Mesa, Arizona, serving from 2001 to 2013.
• Jennie Scobey: American poet and playwright who was active in the Harlem Renaissance.

Other surnames

Scobee