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Gibson Family History

Gibson Surname Meaning

English: from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Gibb (a pet form of Gilbert) + son hence ‘son of Gibb’. The name is very common in Ireland having arrived in that country in the 17th century.

It is also occasionally adopted for Ó Gibealláin see Giblin. This surname is also common among African Americans.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Gibson family from?

You can see how Gibson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gibson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gibson families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 4,869 Gibson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 18% of all the recorded Gibson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Gibson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gibson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Gibson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gibson. 8% of Gibson men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Gibson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gibson were Incapacitated and Housewife.

View Census Data for Gibson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Farmer
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    2%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Gibson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Gibson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gibson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gibson

Passenger Lists

There are 166,000 immigration records available for the last name Gibson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gibson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 221,000 military records available for the last name Gibson. For the veterans among your Gibson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gibson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gibson family history

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What is the average Gibson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Gibson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Gibson in 1940 was 35, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gibson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gibson ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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