Surname Abb - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'A'
Abb: What does the surname Abb mean?
The surname Abb is an English name that has multiple different sources and origins. While one origin has been traced to Scotland, another is from the Middle English ‘abb’, originatng from the Old English ‘abb’ or ‘abbot’, meaning “father”. This could suggest that its first bearer was related to or descended from a man who was the abbot of a monastery. It is a well-known surname and is found throughout many English-speaking countries.
In Scotland, there is evidence of the Abb surname from the 13th century. It is thought that here the name derives from ‘abbat’ which was an archaic term for a priest or monk. Alternately, it could come from the old Norman French phrase ‘au hi’, meaning ‘at the hill’. This could indicate that the Abb surname originated from the manor of Abb, located in Scotland.
Abb is also associated with another place, located in England. It is located near the village of Ingoldsby in Lincolnshire. This area is also known as the birthplace of the Abbs family. It is thought that here the surname is mainly derived from the Middle English word “abb”, meaning “father”.
In conclusion, Abb is an English surname that has multiple sources and origins, with the most well-known being Scotland and England. It can be derived from either the Middle English word “abb” or the old Norman French phrase “au hi”. In Scotland, it may have originated from the manor of Abb. In England, Abb could be derived from the Middle English word “abb”, meaning “father”.
Order DNA origin analysisAbb: Where does the name Abb come from?
The last name Abb is most commonly found in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This is likely due to its history as an occupational surname for an abbot in the Middle Ages. Abb is a Middle High German surname derived from the word Abbat, which means "abbot." In Germany, Abb is one of the many surnames that originated as either an occupation or a patronymic (passed down from the father). It is also distinguishable by its German spelling, Abbe.
Outside of central Europe, Abb is spread across the world through migration and immigration. In the United States, Abb is the 8,724th most common surname, with almost 4,000 individuals bearing the name. Other countries with large populations of Abbs include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
The Abb surname can come in many variations, but many of them still hold the same roots as Abb. This includes Abbe, Abbett, Abe, Abben, Abbass, Abbiss, and Aberbe. Interestingly, Abbs can also be found in secluded areas around the world, such as Fiji, Latvia, and the Solomon Islands.
Overall, it is very likely to find the last name Abb in many countries around the world today. Its popularity is likely due to its history in central Europe and its widespread migration and immigration since then.
Variations of the surname Abb
The surname Abb can appear in different forms, depending on the country and language of origin. Variants of the surname Abb include Abbe, Abbé, Abb, Abbay, Abbaye, Abbayes, Abbey, Abbayes, Abee, Aby, and Abye.
In England, Abb first appeared in the Middle Ages as an occupational name for someone who was a priest or a clerk. In this case, Abb would have denoted a servant of the church. Alternatively, Abb was used as a nickname for someone of a religious persuasion, with the suffix -abb meaning “priest”.
In Germany, Abb is a variation of Abbe, which is derived from the Latin abbas, meaning “father” or “abbot”. In this case, Abb would have been used to denote someone of an ecclesiastical or academic position.
In France, the surname Abbé is the French form of Abb. It was originally used as an occupational name for a priest or abbot. Alternatively, Abbé may have been used as a nickname for someone who was pious or religious in nature.
With regards to spelling, Abb is usually spelled a-b-b in English, a-b-b-é in French, a-b-e in German, and a-b-b-e-y in Scots.
In terms of a surname of the same origin, the closest would be Abbey and Abbay. These surnames are derived from the same root, but they carry different meanings. For example, Abbey was used as a habitational name for someone who lived near an abbey, whereas Abbay was originally used as a given name.
Famous people with the name Abb
- Franca Abb, Italian politician
- David Abb, Canadian politician
- William Abb, political and military leader of the Swiss Confederation
- Emilia Abb, Italian-American architect
- Paul H. Abb, Abstract Expressionist painter
- Paul Abb, French actor
- Adelphe Abbé, the French sculptor
- Jean Abb, French physicist
- Rahel Abb, American documentary filmmaker
- Hermann Abb, German evangelical Lutheran theologian
- Andre Abb, American poet and novelist
- Pierre Abb, French sculptor
- Joseph Abb, English merchant and philanthropist
- Ernest Abb, French zoologist and botanist
- Jean-Auguste Abb, French painter
- Agnes Abb, German contralto opera singer
- Charles Abb, French engineer and industrialist
- John Abb, Scottish missionary
- Larry Abb, American carpenter and businessman
- John Abb, English politician