Explore the Family Name Webb
The meaning of Webb
1. English: occupational name for a weaver, from early Middle English webbe (Old English webba (masculine) or webbe (feminine), probably used of both male and female weavers). This word survived into Middle English long enough to give rise to the surname, but was already obsolescent as an agent noun; hence the secondary forms with the agent suffixes -er and -ster (see Webster, Webber and compare Weaver). 2. Americanized form of various like-sounding Jewish (Ashkenazic) surnames, cognates of 1, including Weber and Weberman. History: Richard Webb, a Lowland Scot, was an admitted freeman of Boston in 1632, and in 1635 was one of the first settlers of Hartford, CT.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Webb in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Webb has experienced a slight decline in rank from 2000 to 2010, moving from the 137th most common surname to the 152nd. Despite this decrease in rank, the actual count of individuals bearing the Webb surname increased by 3.3% from 163,481 in 2000 to 168,878 in 2010. However, considering the U.S. population growth, the proportion per 100,000 people decreased by 5.53%, indicating that the surname did not keep pace with the overall population increase.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #137 | #152 | -10.95% |
| Count | 163,481 | 168,878 | 3.3% |
| Proportion per 100k | 60.6 | 57.25 | -5.53% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Webb
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some gradual shifts over the decade. The percentage of Webbs identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and those identifying as having two or more ethnic identities increased by 21.05% and 32.67% respectively, albeit from small bases. The number of Webbs who identify as White saw a slight decrease, dropping by 2.84%, while those identifying as Hispanic saw a significant increase of 62.41%. The proportion of Black Webbs rose modestly by 3.92%. Lastly, the percentage of American Indian and Alaskan Native Webbs climbed slightly by 6.45%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 77.74% | 75.53% | -2.84% |
| Black | 18.36% | 19.08% | 3.92% |
| Hispanic | 1.41% | 2.29% | 62.41% |
| Two or More Races | 1.5% | 1.99% | 32.67% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.62% | 0.66% | 6.45% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.38% | 0.46% | 21.05% |
Webb ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Webb is British & Irish, which comprises 57.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.5%) and Scandinavian (3.4%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, and Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 57.0% |
| French & German | 21.5% |
| Scandinavian | 3.4% |
| Other | 18.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Webb
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Webb have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.60% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.50% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 87.40% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 87.30% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 87.30% |
What Webb haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Webb is R-P311, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-P311 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-L21, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: West, Harrison, Davis, Brown, Wilson, Martin, Richards, Wright, Smith, Williams.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Webb surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Webb have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Webb" Surname 41.4%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Webb" Surname 27.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Webb" Surname 24.9%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Webb" Surname 18.5%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Webb?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Webb are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition