This ancient and distinguished name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is an occupational surname for a weaver. The name is derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century "webba", a derivative of "wefan", to weave, which gave the early Middle English term "webbe". Interestingly, this word survived into Middle English long enough to give rise to the surname, but was replaced as a term for a weaver by the later forms Webber and Webster, which include the redundant agent suffixes "-(st)er". William Langland's 14th Century poem, "Piers Plowman", contains the lines: "My wife was a webbe, And woolen cloth made", while in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" appear: "An haberdasher, and a carpenter, A webbe, a deyer, and a tapiser".
The surname is first recorded as a byname, in the person of Alger se Webba, circa 1100 - 1130, in the "Olde English Byname Register" for Devonshire. Early examples of the name include Elyas le Webbe (1255, Oxfordshire), and Johannes Wybbe (1379, Yorkshire). The will of one Nicholas Webbe was registered in Chester in 1603. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jernagan Webbe, which was dated 1221, in medieval records of Suffolk (British Museum), during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
Discovering the historical roots of webbe is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The history of the surname webbe is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of webbe. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of webbe.
Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname webbe. It is common for surnames like webbe to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones.
The historical chronicle of webbe is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The historical journey of the surname webbe can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of webbe. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname webbe.
We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname webbe, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname webbe, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames.
It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished webbes throughout human history. Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all webbes who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. If you or someone you know bears the surname webbe, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.
Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of webbe. It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname webbe. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of webbe.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of webbe, and at the same time, of surnames in general.