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Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 22 Aug 2006 3:04AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: GABB
I'm just curious if anyone knows where our family are originally from? All Gabbs must be related far back and must have originated from a certain area. My Australian Gabbs are from Gloucestershire in England where there seems to be lots of Gabbs and the Gabb name seems to date back to the 1300s in that area (sometimes spelt Gabbe in the old days) There seems to be a faint family legend that we all came from Wales, which could be possible because Gloucestershire is fairly close. House of names says "First found in Worcesterhsire where they were anciently seated as Lords of the Manor", which is also close to Wales http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/gabb-family-crest.h...
What are your opinions on this? Do you have any information that stakes a claim to where we are from? What is your family Legend of where the Gabbs are from?

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 5 Apr 2007 9:49PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gabb, Grose
Hello Amanda,
my grandfather's name was George Walkley Gabb.
He lived in Wonga St., Canterbury, Sydney and died around 1948. He was married to Selina Grose whose family dated back to Major Grose of the NSW Corps. He became Lt. Governor of NSW when Gov. Bligh was recalled to England. George Walkley Gabb had 2 sons Percy William (my father), and Lloyd, and 3 daughters, Lillian(married name Burnett), Elsie, and Dulcie. Dulcie remained single until her death. Elsie married late in life to Clive Isaacs. Selina died prior to 1944. The name "Gabb" is certainly of Welch origin with many of the family coming from Shropshire and Gloucestershire around the border area of Wales. I have had some recent information from Greta Gabb who also lives in Brisbane and she has given me some in depth history that she has researched. You are welcome to a copy of it via email if you are interested. I would love to track down some of my ancestors as my father came to Queensland diring the great depression of the 1930 era and we had little contact with the Gabb family in the south from that time. I look forward to your response.
Kind Regards,
Robert Gabb.

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 6 Apr 2007 1:32AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gabb
Dear Robert,

Thank you very much for your reply. My father's brother's name was also Robert Gabb. My Great Grandfather was George Walkley Gabb's brother Henry who married Mary Brown. I've had contact with your neice Linda so I actually have you in my family tree.

My parents moved west to a little country town about 4 years ago and have met Lillian's daughter Ella who also lives out there.

It would be wonderful if you could share any information that you have with me, I will also share all Gabb information I have with you. My email address is amandamat@optusnet.com.au I have traced Hester Walkley's family back to the 1600's but haven't had much luck with John Gabb's family - I know that his father was William but can't find a birth/baptism record to confirm his mother, the family were Baptists in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire and the records for that period (early 1800's) are very poor. I have birth dates for my Great Great Grand father (your Great Grandfather) William, his brother Charles and their sister Emma, a lady from Gloucestershire looked them up on the non-conformist register for me. I don't have birth details for their sister Ann however and am not sure if she was born on the Layton or after they arrive here.

I believe that John's mother was most likely Sarah Alder as their is a marriage for a William Gabb to Sarah Alder in Kings Stanley in 1801 which is where John and Hester were married.

Since my original post in August last year, I have seen that the Gabb name was recorded in Gloucestershire in the 1300s.

Regarding NSW Births Deaths and Marriages records, I'd be interested if you know who the Elizabeth Gabb who married Andrew Peterson in 1869 was. Is she connected to the family? Is she the same Elizabeth Gabb who married Alexander Smith in 1877? If so it seems strange that she'd revert back to her maiden name. Maybe the 1869 Elizabeth is another daughter for John and Hester? The 1877 Elizabeth is definetly George Walkley and Henry's eldest sister (half sister) but I'm just trying to find where the first one fits in.

I look forward to receiving your email.

Best regards,

Amanda Partridge (nee Gabb)

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 17 Jun 2008 11:09AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Amanda,
I know you posted this a while ago, but I have managed to lose your new email off our computer. It blew up a while back. The Elizabeth Gabb you mention is Elizabeth Bentley Gabb, who you sent me a picture of. She is William Gabb's daughter from his first marriage to Elizabeth Bentley in 1856. Elizabeth seems to have died in 1858, and William re-married Ann Green in 1859. On their marriage certificate, William is listed as a widower. But you probably know all this by now.
My dad always said that the name Gabb was supposedly shortened from some hideously long Gaelic name that nobody could pronounce. But there was also some funny story about them being Scottish somewhere along the line, married to a McKenzie(? one of those Mc names) and being Laird of Dumfries through the marriage. The title having come down the female side. Sounds a bit far fetched to me, but he's very vague about his side of the family, and it's taken me a while to convince him that the stories that he has always told aren't true.
I think there are two parts of the family. One seems to have stayed in Wales (which goes along with the shortened name idea) and the other in England, though not too far away. I found out that the border in this part of the world changed weekly at one time. The two must be joined at some point, but it must be a long way back.
Can you send me your new email address again please. I have some photos of the property in NSW, but am not sure of some of the people in them

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 30 Dec 2009 12:53PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gabb
Everything I have found points to South Gloucestershire, where my forebearers were based from at least 1800 in North Nibley and Berkeley. My great grandfather William moved north to Broadway Worcestershire around 1860. His son married a Chipping Campden woman, so just moving back into the northern tip of Gloucestershire.

As to the origins of the name, I have heard the following theries over the years

1) Son of Gabriel i.e. Gabe

2) A talkative person

3) Similarly, a descendant of a court jester known as Edward(?) le Gab

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 7 Apr 2010 6:07PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: GABB
Hello Bruce my Gabb family are from the Welsh side..my fathers mother ADA FLORENCE GABB was born in Newport monmouthshire in 1881 AND HER FATHER THOMAS GABB was from Pembrokeshire WEST WALES..HE MARRIED ANN POWELL
MY G MOTHER ADA married my g, father DANIEL SYSUM from NEWENT In Gloucester. in 1910..Gabbs are very prominent in glos and wales..I HAVE AN EDWIN GABB ..ALBERT..RICHARD..EDITH MARY..JOHN..THOS ENGINE DRIVER..the work used to bring men to Newport for the railways. a William.... Thomas ..bandmaster my g.g.father,,very musical family...does any of these GABBS fit in anywhere?

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 9 May 2010 12:27PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi Robert, it's interesting to hear about different origins of Gabb's. I belong to the line of Gabb's from Gloucestershire, and if you have any information on my possible family history, or if I can help you with anything, please get in touch.

Many Thanks

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 21 May 2010 10:11AM GMT
Classification: Query
Hi there, it seems that maybe your John that you mention might be our John, I think he had a brother Richard who also came out to Australia. I'm not sure about the early Gabbs in our family, but I know that my dad and his brothers were all quite musical at some time in their lives. My dad played percussion as well as tenor horn, and they were all in pipe bands at some point. Would love to know any other info that you have one the early ones. Our John was a sawyer. Cheers, Linda

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 23 May 2010 2:43AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: GABB
Elizabeth Baker married John Gabb of Goytre, Grosmont. Both were old Catholic families from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.

Owen Glyndwr, Father Augustine Baker, Dr. David Lewis, Saint David Lewis & Sir Roger Vaughan are noted as part of the Baker line.

Some family members migrated to South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Belize, India, New Zealand, United States & West Indies from Wales.
I keep promising I will update this blog on part of my family but I'm afraid I have fallen behind. I think it may be a little difficult to follow but has tons of information. Everything on this blog can be verified in a book written by Richard Gabb, or resources on the web. (Some information not on the blog and not verified goes back for the Baker family to the 600's) Hope this helps.
http://gabbfamily.blogspot.com

Re: Where are the Gabbs Originally From?

Posted: 2 Jan 2011 1:49AM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Gabb
Hi, I am wondering if my family is the same Gabb family?

My great-great grandfather is William Gabb of Penarth Wales, DOB 1875, died May 30th 1920 at 45.

He was married to Sarah Sheppard Thomas and had two children, Stephen John Gabb (my great grandfather) DOB Dec. 4, 1896 (later Stephen Thomas Gapp when emmigrated to Canada in early 1900's)and a Daughter named Beatrice. No other informaiton is known about her.

I can be reached at breezeline@hotmail.com
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