This uncommon surname is recorded in the spellings of Tabb, Tebb and Tibb. It is of early medieval English origin, although its ultimate source is from a pre 7th century Germanic personal name "Theobauld". Tabb is one of the diminutive forms, with Tebbitt and Tibbitt being double diminutives. The usual English medieval given name spelling was Tebald, Tibbald or Tibalt, and these also gave rise to surnames, and represent the vernacular pronunciation of Theobald. This derives from the elements "theudo", meaning people or tribe, and "bald", meaning bold or brave. The name was first introduced into England by the Normans after the Conquest of 1066, in the Old French forms "Teobaud and Tibaut". The given name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 in a variety of forms, such as "Teobald, Tedbaldus, Tetbald and Tebaldus", and generated a great number of surnames, ranging from Tudball, Tidbold and Tibble, to Dybald, Dibble, etc. Examples of early recordings include such as Tebbe de Wifardebi in the Yorkshire Pipe Rolls of 1177, and Tebbe filius Toke in the Lincolnshire rolls known as the "Feet of Fines" in 1208. Later recordings of the surname taken from early church registers include the marriage of Richard Tebb and Katherine Newton, on November 5th 1582, at St. Cruix church, York, George Tabbe, who married Lettyce Cotton at St Giles Cripplegate, London, On August 24th 1612, and Samuel Tabb, a witness at the famous church of St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on February 10th 1710. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Tebbe, which was dated 1316, in the records of Danelaw, Leicestershire, during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. 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.

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