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
| MALES | FEMALES |
| 21 April 1744 Wm Geep M Mary Rayson? 30 June 1767 George Geep M Charity Trask 1 August 1774 Thomas Geep m Alice Lawrence 21 September 1800 John Geep m Elizabeth Parker |
23 February 1773 Ann Geep m John Lawrence 3 March 1778 Elizabeth Geep m Thomas Rendle 3 March 1778 Mary Geep m Robert Lawrence 29 May 1797 Susanna Geep m Thomas Lawrence |
BAPTISMS (and Burials where indicated)
| William & Mary (nee Rayson?) GEEP | Baptism 21 January 1744 George Baptism 26 October 1746 William Baptism 21 December 1748 Ann Baptism 21 July 1751 Thomas |
Baptism 21 September 1760 Joseph (buried 3 April 1761) Baptism 4 April 1763 Joseph (buried 14 Sept 1763) Baptism 25 November 1764 Samuel |
| George & Charity (nee Trask) GEEP | Baptism 4 October 1767 Samuel Baptism 15 March 1770 William Burial 16 June 1771 Susanna Baptism 27 September 1772 Susannah Baptism 30 July 1775 George Baptism 15 October 1777 Anne Baptism 2 April 1780 John |
Baptism 26 November 1782 Mary Baptism 20 November 1785 Charity Burial 27 February 1787 William Burial 29 January 1788 Charity Baptism 4 May 1788 Charity Burial 28 June 1789 George Baptism 4 March 1792 George |
| Thomas & Alice (nee Lawrence) GEEP [Note: Thomas noted as a Pauper in 1793] |
Burial 8 December 1776 Susannah Baptism 19 August 1777 William Baptism 26 May 1779 Susanna Burial 28 November 1779 William Baptism 24 October 1781 Sarah Baptism 12 April 1784 Elizabeth |
Baptism 3 June 1787 Hannah Baptism 6 June 1791 Mary Baptism 8 March 1793 Kitty Baptism 25 December 1795 Phoebe Baptism 25 December 1802 Thomas |
| Samuel & Mary GEEP | Baptism 3 April 1785 Hannah | Baptism 2 November 1788 Mary |
| Samuel & Ann GEEP [Note: Samuel noted as a Pauper in 1792] |
Baptism 24 June 1792 Robert Baptism 8 October 1795 Ann Baptism 27 November 1796 Ann Baptism 29 September 1799 Ann |
Baptism 26 May 1805 Jane Baptism 17 April 1808 Samuel Burial 18 February 1787 Robert |
BURIALS
| MALES -1 | FEMALES – 6 |
| 15 February 1784 William Geep Pauper | 26 May 1745 Ann Geeb 1 November 1795 Ann Geep 4 May 1797 Ann Geep 7 May 1713 Elizabeth Gibb? 7 September 1795 Kitty Geep 5 April 1787 Mary Geep Pauper |
Into the 19th Century
MENTIONS IN THE POOR BOOK FOR MERRIOTT – Disbursements to the Second Poor of Merriott Courtesy of Pauline Phillips.
|
1811 |
Samuel |
Geep |
0. 2. 6d |
|
1812 |
Samuel |
Geep |
0. 2. 6d |
MARRIAGES 1801 – 1837
| MALES – 3 | FEMALES – 13 |
| 24 December 1816 George Geep m Elizabeth Wills 23 June 1833 John Geep m Ann Young 13 March 1836 George Gibb m Hannah Denmead |
6 December 1802 Susanna Geep m John Webb (Hinton St George) 30 July 1803 Ann Geep m Joseph Wills 30 May 1808 Mary Geep m William Wills 25 December 1809 Charity Geep m Samuel Wills 29 March 1812 Elizabeth Geep m James Brown 5 December 1813 Mary Geep m John Marks 10 April 1820 Ann Geep m William Wills 18 October 1824 Mary Geep m Charles Lawrence 23 June 1828 Elizabeth Geep m John Pattemore 21 February 1831 Harriett Geep m Joseph Trask 13 October 1833 Eliza Geep m Joseph Sweet 25 December 1834 Phoebe Gabe m Samuel French 7 February 1837 Hannah Gibb m William Lawrence |
MARRIAGES post 1837 (extra detail)
|
Date |
Year |
Forename |
Surname |
Spouse |
Age |
Condition |
Signed? |
Abode |
Occupation |
Father |
Father’s Occ |
Witness |
|
20-Nov |
1847 |
Ann |
Wills |
Robert Gibb |
24 |
Spinster |
No |
Lower St |
Dress Maker |
John Wills |
Labourer |
Sarah Paul |
|
20-Nov |
1847 |
Robert |
Gibb |
Ann Wills |
28 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Lower St |
Labourer |
William Gibb |
Labourer |
Samuel Gibb |
|
1-Apr |
1858 |
Susan |
Osborne |
Robert Gabe |
Full |
Widow |
No |
Merriott |
not given |
not given |
Ann Trask |
|
|
1-Apr |
1858 |
Robert |
Gabe |
Susan Osborne |
full |
Widower |
Yes |
Merriott |
Labourer |
William Gabe |
Labourer |
Reginald Trask |
|
24-Dec |
1864 |
Alfred |
Lawrence |
Sarah Anne Gabe |
22 |
Bachelor |
No |
Merriott |
Labourer |
Jesse Lawrence |
Labourer |
James Lawrence |
|
24-Dec |
1864 |
Sarah Ann |
Gabe |
Alfred Lawrence |
23 |
Spinster |
No |
Merriott |
George Gabe |
Labourer |
Emma Lacey |
|
|
24-Dec |
1864 |
Robert |
Gabe |
Mary Pitts |
19 |
Bachelor |
No |
Merriott |
Labourer |
George Gabe |
Labourer |
William Pitts |
|
24-Dec |
1864 |
Mary |
Pitts |
Robert Gabe |
19 |
Spinster |
No |
Merriott |
Edward Pitts |
Labourer |
Susan Pitts |
|
|
30-Sep |
1871 |
Emma |
Sweet |
Ambrose Gibb |
21 |
Spinster |
No |
Merriott |
Josias Sweet |
Labourer |
Robert Gibbs |
|
|
30-Sep |
1871 |
Ambrose |
Gibb |
Emma Sweet |
21 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Merriott |
Carter |
George Gibb |
Carter |
Elizabeth Sweet |
|
17-Jul |
1880 |
George |
Gabe |
Emma Wills |
25 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Broadway |
Labourer |
George Gabe |
Labourer |
Thomas Wills |
|
17-Jul |
1880 |
Emma |
Wills |
George Gabe |
22 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Boozer Pit |
Amos Wills |
Labourer |
Elizabeth Pattemore |
|
|
30-Apr |
1882 |
Mary |
Gabe |
James Cooper |
32 |
Widow |
No |
Lower St |
Edward Pitts (deceased) |
Labourer |
Jane Farr |
|
|
30-Apr |
1882 |
James |
Cooper |
Mary Gabe |
28 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Lower St |
Labourer |
John Cooper |
Labourer |
Alfred Farr |
|
26-Jul |
1883 |
William |
Wills |
Elizabeth Gabe |
24 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Lower St |
Weaver |
Jesse Wills (deceased) |
Weaver |
Francis Elswood |
|
26-Jul |
1883 |
Elizabeth |
Gabe |
William Wills |
16 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Lower St |
Robert Gabe (deceased) |
Labourer |
Mary Jane Wills |
|
|
23-Dec |
1883 |
George |
Gibb |
Mary Wills |
35 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Cardiff |
Labourer |
Robert Gibb |
Labourer |
George Foot |
|
23-Dec |
1883 |
Mary |
Wills |
George Gibb |
33 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Merriott |
Edward Wills |
Labourer |
Ellen Gibb |
|
|
29-Oct |
1887 |
Robert |
Eason |
Mary Ann Gibbs |
24 |
Bachelor |
Yes |
Merriott |
Labourer |
Robert Eason |
Farmer |
John Young |
|
29-Oct |
1887 |
Mary Ann |
Gibbs |
Robert Eason |
22 |
Spinster |
Yes |
Merriott |
not given |
Elizabeth Gibb |
BAPTISMS of children with the surname GEEP or GEAB or GIBB: 1801 to early 1876
| John & Elizabeth (nee Parker) GEEP | 17 May 1801 Mary | |
| Elizabeth GEEP | 30 May 1808 Hannah, BC | 4 June 1810 John, BC |
| Sarah GEEP | 4 June 1810 John, BC | |
| Hannah GEEP | 25 December 1810 Samuel, BC | |
| Samuel & Charity GEEP | 9 May 1812 Elizabeth | |
| Hannah (a Labourer) GEEP | 25 December 1813 Samuel | |
| Samuel (a Labourer) & Elizabeth GEEP | 22 May 1814 Harriett | |
| William (a Labourer) & Ann GEEP ** This family was known as GIBB towards the end of this century |
22 May 1814 George 26 May 1816 Samuel 26 December 1825 William |
26 December 1825 Robert (aged 6) 26 December 1825 Ann |
| Hannah (a Labourer) GEEP | 7 May 1826 Ann, BB | |
| George (a Labourer) & Elizabeth (nee Wills) GEEP |
25 December 1818 John 25 December 1818 George 11 June 1820 Ann 21 July 1822 William |
12 May 1823 Elizabeth 7 May 1826 Samuel 27 May 1827 James |
| Phoebe/Phebe (a Labourer/ Spinster) GEEP | 13 January 1823 Hannah 24 December 1826 Ruben, B. B. |
24 December 1826 Stephen, B. B. 28 July 1833 Caroline, BB |
| Thomas (a Labourer) & Jane GEEP (also spelt GEAB and GABE) |
23 September 1827 Mercy 1 April 1832 Thomas |
18 September 1836 Thomas 15 June 1834 Anne |
| John (a Weaver) and Ann (nee Young) GABE/ GIBB/ GEAB |
18 September 1836 Susan 16 February 1834 Edwin 2 September 1838 Elizabeth |
6 June 1841 Mary Ann 3 March 1844 Louisa 30 July 1847 Francis |
| George (a Labourer/Carter) & Hannah (nee Denmead) GEAB/GIBB Note: Children later favoured the name GIBBS |
28 August 1836 Elizabeth 6 January 1839 Sarah Ann 7 February 1841 William 5 March 1843 Edwin |
2 March 1845 Simeon 5 September 1847 Robert 4 May 1851 Ambrose 14 October 1855 George |
| Ann GIBB | 7 August 1842 Elizabeth, BB | |
| Robert (a Carter) & Ann (nee Wills) GIBB | 7 May 1848 Samuel 5 August 1849 George 2 March 1851 Edwin |
9 November 1852 Ellen 2 July 1854 Edwin 5 February 1857 William |
| John (a Weaver) & Elinor GIBB | 7 April 1850 John | 1 June 1851 Samuel |
| Louisa (a single woman) GABE | 7 December 1865 Mary Ann | |
| Robert (a Labourer) & Mary (nee Pitts) GABE/ GIBB |
8 September 1867 Elizabeth 13 March 1870 Bessie |
8 September 1872 William 8 August 1875 Rosa |
| Ambrose (a Labourer) & Emma (nee Sweet) GIBB ** later became GIBBS |
12 December 1871 William George | |
BURIALS
| MALES – 18 | FEMALES – 14 |
| 26 March 1843 Edwin Gibb 2 mo 13 November 1852 Edwin Gibb 2 31 October 1878 Ernest William Gibb 1 10 August 1847 Francis Gibb 2 mo 6 July 1808 George Geep 5 April 1889 George Gibbs 77 5 February 1855 John Gibb 46 28 April 1819 Robert Geep 2 27 March 1875 Robert Gibbs 30 17 January 1876 Robert Gibbs 60 25 January 1879 Robert Gibbs 7 w 20 February 1809 Samuel Geep 14 May 1837 Samuel Geep 76 30 December 1814 Thomas Geep 67 17 April 1832 Thomas Geep 5 w 7 July 1857 William Gibb 3 w 24 May 1873 William Gibbs 11mo 24 February 1872 William George Gibbs 9 w |
28 October 1821 Alice Geep 66 24 June 1810 Ann Geep 26 February 1853 Ann Gibb 72 7 July 1857 Ann Gibb 34 26 December 1890 Ann Gibbs 87 7 February 1813 Ann Geep 9 mo 4 December 1842 Elizabeth Gibb infant 10 April 1855 Elizabeth Gibb 85 25 March 1849 Emmeline Gibb 3 28 June 1900 Hannah Gibb 87 22 August 1868 Louisa Gibb 24 21 December 1876 Rosa Gibbs 17 mo 2 December 1845 Sarah Gibb 70 1 September 1846 Sarah Gibb 14 mo |
CENSUSES
This surname group was the 20th most common surname in Merriott during the 19th century census periods.
See: Gibbs in 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.
| Edwin GIBBS | 25 | General Labourer | Born Merriott |
| Hannah GIBBS | 25 | Wife | Born St Brides, Monmouth, Wales |
| Hannah M. LITTLE | 8 | Stepdaughter | Born St Brides, Monmouth, Wales |
| Bertie GIBBS | 10 months | Son | Born St Brides, 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@merriottfamiliesgenealogy.net
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.