This interesting surname of English origin is a patronymic of the medieval given name Dobbe, a pet form of the Germanic personal name Robert composed of the elements "hrod" meaning "renown" plus "berht" "bright", "famous". The surname is especially widespread in Northern England and the Midlands. The surname dates back to the early 16th Century, (see below). Further recordings include John Dabbe (1524), "The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk". Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Dabs, Dabbes, Dabbs, Dabes, etc.. Church recordings include one Elizabeth Dabbs who married Hugh Eglesfelde on July 18th 1544 at St. Matthew's, Friday Street, London, and Thoms Dabbs who married Johanna Greatholder on January 18th 1581 at Eccleshall, Staffordshire. Thoms Dabbs was christened on November 23rd 1606 at St. Gregory by St. Paul, London. One Thomas Dabb, an emigrant to the New World, sailed aboard the Alexander bound for the Barbados on May 2nd 1635. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry Dabbe, (marriage to Elizabeth Hopper), which was dated circa 1520, in London, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Good King Hal", 1509 - 1547. 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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