This very unusual name is apparently first recorded in London in the mid 17th century, which clearly indicates that it is a derivative of an original name. It is almost certainly of Olde English origin, the basic form being "Cybbel" later found in medieval times as "Kybbel or Kibble" and being job descriptive for a maker (or possibly user) of cudgels - a heavy club. The modern spellings include Kibbel and Keeble, the patronymics taking the French suffix "ard" to mean "son of Kibb or Kybb" as in and including the following (with their dates of recording), Kyberd (1761), Kibert (1691), Kybird (1765), Kibard (1810) , Kybert (1818) etc. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Nathan Kibberd. which was dated 1680, Married Rebecca Street at St. James, Duke St., London. during the reign of King Charles 11, "The Merry Monarch" 1660 - 1685. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.