Re: Bibber to Bibbord and Bibber to Van Bibber
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In reply to:
Bibber to Bibbord and Bibber to Van Bibber
Randy Van Bibber 4/12/02
Hi Randy:
I have not checked the Bibber family forum in a year I guess.I read this message from you and will tell you what or why the Bibbers might have changed thier names from Bibber to Van Bibber.It was my great grandfather Chas. E. Bibber or my grandfather, Arthur E. Van Bibber who did it, have never found a change of name legal doc so can't verify who was the culprit.However this may be a reason, my great grandfather C.E. was a traveling engineer and spent some time in Phila. where the Van Bibber family was a well known influential family but had no link with our family.They were one of the original families that started Germantown, PA. a suburb of Phila.My mother thought that when he heard and saw this name he thought that perhaps over the years the Van had been dropped therefore added it back on.Also, to my cynical thinking it may have been a step up the social ladder because the name change seems to come about the time they moved from Malden, Ma. to Brookline, MA. which was considered a more exclusive part of town.I remember Mother telling me that Grand mother Durgan would never accept being called Mrs. Van Bibber (she was married to CE Bibber).Another thing, going back farther the Viberts which they may have descended from came from the Isle of Jersey - Vibert pronounced with a french accent can sould more like Bibber to an English speaking person then Vibert...t is silent.If one goes to the Channel Islands, the name Vibert is like Smith!
I loved the photographs of Bustin's Island!Thank you so much for sharing them.I have never been there, had hoped to get to them and also Seguin Island lighthouse where another ancestor was a keeper for awhile but weather prevented it.Someday I hope to manage to before I get too old to do it!
Interesting you mentioned living in CA.I was born in the LA area, my parents divorced and I spent the summers with my father out there and winters with my mother back here in the East.If you have anymore thoughts about this please let me know.
My email is: [email protected]