Surname Gibney - Meaning and Origin
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Gibney: What does the surname Gibney mean?
The last name Gibney is an Irish surname originating with the Gaelic name MacGibney, derived from the old Gaelic word 'gimbe' which means 'son of the smith'. This name was carried to Ireland by Viking settlers during the 10th century. In Ireland, MacGibney was adopted by many native Irish families who had been dispossessed of their lands; they anglicised the name to Gibney or Givney.
Gibney is also an English toponymic surname, which means it arose from a geographical region - typically a location. In this case, it originates from Gibney's farm near Blaina in Monmouthshire in Wales.
Thus, the origin of the name Gibney is from the old Gaelic language and depending on the region or country, it could either have come from an Irish or Welsh origin. The name suggests some of the family may have had a background in being skilled metalworkers, smiths, or miners. In the contemporary context, the Gibney family is known for their loyalty, strong spirit and their intelligence which has been passed down over many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisGibney: Where does the name Gibney come from?
The last name Gibney is most commonly found today in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. In the United States, Gibney appears much more frequently in American states with a long history of immigration, including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
In the United Kingdom, the surname is most prevalent in Ireland. The Gibney family was part of the first generation to settle in Ireland: they arrived with the Norman Conquest of 1171. The family name has remained common in the region since then.
Many Gibneys can also be found in Australia, especially in the states of Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales. This is likely due to the wave of Irish immigrants that came to the country during the mid to late 1800s.
Lastly, the surname has spread to Canada, particularly in the province of Ontario. This is due to the migration of Irish immigrants to Canada in the 19th century in order to work in the timber industry.
Today, Gibneys can be found in many areas of the world, with a large concentration in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Australia, and Canada.
Variations of the surname Gibney
The surname Gibney has many variants, spelling variations, and related surnames. In the U.S., the most commonly seen variants are Givney, Gibnney, Gibbonay, Gibson, Givnay, Gibneye, Gabbeny, and Gabbeney. In Ireland, the most common forms of the Gibney surname are Gib'ne and Gibbe. A less common form of the Gibney surname is the Gaelic form, Gibne.
In North America, spelling variants of the name Gibney include Givney, Gibneye, Givnay, Gibson, and Gibbeney. The variant “Givney” is also seen in England, Wales, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Gibneye is an Anglicized form of the name found in Ireland. The variant “Gibbeney” is found in Scotland.
Gibson is the most common surname in the U.S. with Gibney as its variant. The name had various spellings over the years including Gibonz, Gibbins and Gibbinson.
In Scotland, the surname Gabbeny appears as a variant of Gibney, derived from the Gaelic personal name Gobha. The variant Gabbeney is also found in Scotland.
In Ireland, the surnames Gib'ne and Gibbe are variants. In the Irish variants, a double 'n' may be seen in some spellings as in Gibson or Gibnney, indicating the presence of the patronymic prefix Mac or Mc.
The variants of Gibney found in Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and North America are all derived from the same Gaelic root and all ultimately stem from the Irish name Mac Gioghobhain, which can be translated as son of Gioghobhain.
Famous people with the name Gibney
- Mary Gibney: former Irish news presenter
- Gregor Gibney: international broadcast journalist and presenter
- Claire Gibney: award-winning Irish press photographer
- Robert J. Gibney: Irish Roman Catholic Bishop
- Joseph M. Gibney: Civil War Confederate Army Major
- Mark Gibney: immigration scholar, lawyer, and professor
- Eugene Gibney: educator and politician from Idaho
- Rachael Gibney: Irish actress and writer
- Mark A. Gibney: politician from Tennessee
- Bill Gibney: former professional baseball player
- Don Gibney: Rugby Union player
- Jack Gibney: Polish professional soccer player
- Margaret Gibney: Irish Olympic swimmer
- Thomas J. Gibney: Irish poet
- Stella Gibney: Australian actress
- Desmond Gibney: English actor
- Patrick Gibney: Director of the Irish Film Board
- William Gibney: Australian jazz musician
- Michael Gibney: American chef
- Myles Gibney: Irish animator
- Aidan Gibney: Irish cartoonist and illustrator
- Dorothy Gibney: Scottish spell-casting expert
- Priscilla Gibney: American multi-instrumentalist musician
- Conor Gibney: Irish cyclist
- Stephen Gibney: Irish professional golfer