Pheby Family History

The variant of the now rare or extinct surname Fabey or Fabby is probably derived from an unrecorded pet form of the Middle English personal name Fabian or from a reduced form of the derived surname Fabin. Notably, Fabian is recorded in early Modern English as Phebian, Febian, and Febin.

Historical records highlight instances of the surname, including John Fabin from 1611 and John Fabye from 1642, found in IGI (Bassingbourn, Cambs). Other notable entries include Isaac Fabin in 1688, Eliz. Fabey in 1697, and Isaac Febey in 1701, all recorded in IGI (Cheshunt, Herts). Additionally, Susanna Febie appeared in 1668 and Mary Febing in 1675 in IGI (Norwich, Norfolk).

The spelling and pronunciation of the surname have been influenced by the early Modern English female personal name Phoebe, which is a Latinized form of the name of the Greek female deity Phoibe. This personal name, however, is not certainly evidenced in England before 1568, as indicated by Withycombe.

It is important to note that while the name Phoebe may have influenced the surname, it is most unlikely to be an actual source of it.