Merriott Families Genealogy

The Gibbs/Gibb/Gabe/Geeb/Geep Families of Merriott

18th Century         19th Century           20th Century

This is a surname which evolved in the way it was spelt through the various registers. I will include all the above forms on this page, even though not all forms may have necessarily evolved into the more well known GIBB or GIBBS.     The earliest mention is of a GABE and a GAEB ON 25 December 1704, actually a double entry of the same marriage, of Abigail GABE/GAEB to William HUTCHINGS.   No further entries of baptisms for children of this couple can be found.

In the first part of the 1700s, two entries are found:

Burial of Elizabeth GIBB 7 May 1713; Burial of Ann GEEB 26 May 1745. 

It is not until later that century that several families of GEEPs can be seen in the parish registers.

18th Century GEEP/GIBB in Merriott

MARRIAGES

BAPTISMS (and Burials where indicated)

BURIALS

Into the 19th Century

MENTIONS IN THE POOR BOOK FOR MERRIOTT - Disbursements to the Second Poor of Merriott

Courtesy of Pauline Phillips.

MARRIAGES 1801 - 1837

MARRIAGES post 1837 (extra detail)

BAPTISMS of children with the surname GEEP or GEAB or GIBB: 1801 to early 1876

BURIALS

CENSUSES

This surname group was the 20th most common surname in Merriott during the 19th century census periods.
See:  Censuses Page

Immigration to Wales

In the 1881 census the Edwin Gibbs family are found at : Wharf Road Old House, Wentllooge St Bride, Monmouth, Wales.

Into the 20th Century

By the early 20th Century, the only surname of this group remaining in Merriott was GIBBS. 

An example of the way the surname spelling changed:

George GEEP, baptised 1814, son of William & Ann GEEP, eventually became known as George GIBB. His own children with wife Hannah (nee Denmead) initially spelt their name GIBB, but later it was known as GIBBS.

I do not know if every GEEP of the 18th and 19th century became a GIBB or a GIBBS.

For more information please email Sue Osborne

Notes on the Gibbs Surname - contributed by David Gibbs [ david.gibbs@btinternet.com  ]

  ·         An American researcher believes the name Gibbs, or Gibbes, is Norman in origin. 

  ·         I believe it is highly likely that there was a family connection between those Merriott people named Gibbs, Gibb, Gabe, Geeb and Geep. The variation in spelling was probably due to pronunciation, itself due to a long-ago mix of dialect and accent. The information regarding births, marriages and deaths entered in Parish Registers was passed to the vicar verbally by illiterate peasants who were incapable of scrutinising an entry, so variations might well have gone unchecked. The name Gibbs as pronounced by a Merriott man two centuries ago, and even much later, may well have sounded like Geebs. Indeed, when I was young there were many people in Merriott, my own father included, who would pronounce my own name as Daveed Geebs. For the name Gibbs to be listed as Gibb is quite a common occurrence, even to this day.

  ·         Gibbs is a well-established West Country name. In the current Taunton area phone book, which includes Merriott, the number of entries for each name in the Gibbs group are: Gibbs 123, Gibb 5, Gabe 2, Geeb 0 and Geep 0.

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