Gibson

Gibson is a surname meaning son of Gib, with Gib an old familiar form of Gilbert. Gilbert itself combines Germanic elements associated with a pledge and brightness. The surname preserves the shorter medieval form, giving Gibson a specific family-name history rather than a newly created combination of sounds.

The Gibson guitar company makes music an immediate association for many people. Tennis champion Althea Gibson and illustrator Charles Dana Gibson provide other recognizable surname connections; the latter’s work gave rise to the term Gibson Girl. As a first name, Gibson joins a long tradition of bringing family names into the given-name position. A personal musical connection or an inherited surname can add a further reason for choosing it.