This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Gilbert' from nick. Gib; v. Gilbert.

'How Gyb, good morne: wheder goys thou?': The Nativity. Towneley Mysteries.

As Tib was the name for a female cat, so was Gib for a male, but the distinction was gradually forgotten: 'Now, master, as I am true wag, I will be neither late, nor lag, But go and come with gossips cheer, Ere Gib, our cat, can lick her ear.'

'For who that's but a queen, fair, sober, wise, Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib, Such dear concernings hide?': Hamlet.

Hence such opprobrious epithets as '(libber-gib,' or 'flitter-gibbet,' found in Latimer, Burton, and, later, Walter Scott. Gib was also applied to a young gosling (v. Halliwell).

Adam Gibbe, 1311. Writs of Parliament.

Perseval Gybson, Yorkshire,: Corpus Christi Guild (Surtees Society).

Robert Gybbyson, Yorkshire, ibid.

'son of Gib(b), which see, Johun Gibson surrendered the Castle of Rothesay in 1335 (Wyntoun, bk. viii, c. 26), Thomas Gibbeson was charged with breaking of parole in 1358 (Bain, IV, 25), John Gybbessone was servitor of William Douglas, one of the hostages of Henry VI in 1425 (Bain, IV, 986), and Thome Gibson held land in Dumfries in the same year (RMS., II, 22). Thomas Gibsoun was on assize of lands of Gladmor (Gladsmuir) in 1430 (James II, 16), David Gibsone was a charter witness in Glasgow 1451 (REG., 365), and John Gibsoune was chamberlain of that burgh in 1496 (ibid., 472). John Gybson, factor and attorney in 1473 may be the John Gibson, Scottish merchant, who had a safe conduct into England in the same year (Bain, IV, p. 286,408). John Gypsone was tenant of the bishop of Glasgow in 1514 (Rental), William Gibsoun witnessed an instrument of sasine in 1525 (Home, 35), and David Gibson was bailie of the burgh of Dysart in 1543 (Dysart, p. 10). The Gibsons of Caithness and Orkney are mainly of Edinburgh origin and the Gibsons of Durie date from 1500 and held the lands till 1785. Gipson 1540, Gipsone 1592, Gipsoun 1580, Gybsone 1542, Gybsoun 1486.

GIBBIESON: 'son of Gibbie,' a Scots diminutive of Gilbeht, which see. John Gibiesoun, chorister in Channonry of Ross, 1560 (OPS., II, p. 588). Thomas Gibbison, cordiner in Borrowstounes (Bo'ness) is in record in 1655 (Inquis., 4052). Now doubtless merged in Gibson. Gibbisone 1622.

Gibb’s (Son): v. Gibb, a diminutive of Gilbert, q.v.

(English) Descendant of Gib, a pet form of Gilbert (pledge, bright).

The son of Gib, or Gilbert, sometimes contracted from Gilbertson.

From Gib, a nickname for Gilbert.

The son of Gib or Gilbert.

Contracted from MacGibbon, ‘Gilbert’s Son.' ‘The descendants of Gilbert Fitzgerald, a younger son of John Fitzgerald, ancestor of the houses of Kildare and Desmond, assumed the appellation of MacGibbon'.

Gibbs. —Confined to the southern half of England. In the northern counties its place is taken by Gibson. Its principal homes are in Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.

Gibson. —A north of England name, best represented in the counties of Cumberland, Westmoreland, Durham, and Northumberland. The Gibsons are also very frequent across the Scotch border in the counties of Berwick and Dumfries, and they are well established in the counties south of the Forth and the Clyde. Its area also extends to and includes Notts and Staffordshire, where it abuts on the area of Gibbs. The distribution of these two names in England affords a remarkable example of the separate occupation by two similar names, or more correctly speaking, by two forms of the same name, of two contiguous but distinct regions. Derbyshire, which is on the neutral ground between the northern area of the Gibsons and the southern area of the Gibbses, possesses both names, but in no great numbers.