Surname Bibey - Meaning and Origin

Bibey: What does the surname Bibey mean?

The last name Bibey is of French origin and dates back to the Anglo-Norman era of Britain in the 11th-14th centuries. The name derived from the medieval French Beauvieux, also written as Beaufós, which was derived from two existing Old French words: beau, which meant “beautiful,” and vieux, which meant “old.”

The first recorded spelling of the family name was BeViel, which was dated 1270, in the "Hundred Rolls of London." Later spellings of the name adopted included Beauvie, Beauvis, Bei, Bey, Bievvis, Bievys and Beviel.

Over the centuries the surname has been associated with many branches and spelling variations, allowing individuals of the same family to use different versions of the same name.

The use of the name is spread across the English-speaking world, most notably in the United States and Canada. It is thought to be especially popular in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

In today’s world, the surname Bibey is less frequently used, but it can still be found in documented records, associated with a variety of people of diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. As part of a successful surname search, it is a great way to trace family history and gain insight into a family’s history in an era before records became more accessible.

Bibey: Where does the name Bibey come from?

The last name Bibey is most commonly found in the United States and Canada. It has French Canadian roots, indicating it likely started out as a variant of the family name Bibeau. In the early 20th century, records indicate the surname was most prevalent in the Southern states, particularly in states along the Eastern Seaboard like Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Today, the name appears to have spread out more uniformly across the US and Canada, with about half of the bearers found in the Southeast and the others scattered throughout the Midwest, Southwest, and West. According to the US Census, the most people with the surname Bibey are found in Texas, followed by Louisiana, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Maryland. Interestingly, the surname is also relatively popular in British Columbia, suggesting that the first Bibey's may have left their homes in the US and emigrated north to Canada at some point in the early 1900s.

Variations of the surname Bibey

The variant spellings and surnames of the same origin as the surname Bibey are Bibeau, Bibow, Bibbo, and Bibo.

Originating from the northern French province of Picardy, the surname Bibey is derived from ancient dialect of the area and is thought to come from the regional term bibo, which means “crazy” or “foolish”.

The first Bibey family in North America dates back to the late 1600's, when Jacques Bibey arrived in Quebec, Canada. His descendants eventually spread to Maine, Louisiana, Illinois, Iowa, California, and other States throughout the United States.

The spelling of the surname has changed throughout the course of history due in part to illiteracy and the lack of an established spelling of French names. Over time, the variants that emerged included Bibeau, Bibow, Bibbo, and Bibo.

The spelling might also be affected by regional influences, migrations, and shifts in pronunciations of certain vowels over time.

This has resulted in the surname Bibey being found in various spellings and surnames as well as the spelling variants of Bibeau, Bibow, Bibbo, and Bibo.

Famous people with the name Bibey

• Tony Bibey, former professional rugby player from England
• John Bibey, American composer, songwriter, and performer
• William Bibey, former British Army officer
• Libby Bibey, American Christian rock singer
• Michael Bibey, British television presenter
• Greg Bibey, Canadian professional ice hockey player
• Toni Bibey, American comedian and actress
• Cecil Bibey, former professional basketball player
• Martha Bibey, American businesswoman and entrepreneur
• Lori Bibey, American reality television personality
• Albert Bibey, former professional racecar driver
• Kevin Bibey, English film and television composer
• Devon Bibey, Canadian Olympic athlete
• Robert Bibey, former American football player
• Jody Bibey, former women's soccer player
• Emily Bibey, American acrobatic gymnast
• Shannon Bibey, Emmy-nominated movie and television actress
• Jennifer Bibey, Australian model and actress
• Beverly Bibey, American beauty pageant contestant
• Susan Bibey, American freelance writer and illustrator

Other surnames

BibeBibeeBibelrietherBiberBiberachBiberacherBibergeilBiberleBiberstein