Surname Looby - Meaning and Origin
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Looby: What does the surname Looby mean?
The last name Looby is derived from the Gaelic surname O’Luibhe, which is derived from the Gaelic word luibhe meaning “dear one.” The most commonly accepted origin of the name is that it was a name bestowed upon individuals of a good reputation. It is also believed to be an assumed surname that someone adopted as their own in order to hide their real identity.
Looby is more commonly found in Ireland than the rest of the British Isles. It is ultimately derived from the Old Gaelic O'Luibhe, and is associated with an ancient clan or sept who resided in County Sligo in the Republic of Ireland prior to the Norman invasion. The O'Loobys were a prominent and aristocratic family who held lands throughout the province of Ulster during the Middle Ages and into modern times.
Over time, the spelling of the name Looby changed, and numerous variations are found across the British Isles, including Lube, Levey, Lobey, Loby and Lovey. As time passed, more and more people adopted the name without having any ancestral connection to the Loobys of Ireland, and it is now found in the U.K., Canada, Australia and the United States.
The Looby surname, regardless of spelling, continues to carry a legacy of prestige, nobility and grace. Those with the last name Looby are typically thought to come from an esteemed background, and this assumption remains true to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisLooby: Where does the name Looby come from?
The last name Looby is most commonly found today in parts of the United States; in particular, the states of Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania have higher concentrations of people with the surname. Looby is also a common name in Northern Ireland, as well Ireland, Scotland, Canada, and Australia. The name originates from the Gaelic word meaning “leaping”, and is believed to have descended to the present day from the O’ Luibh family, who settled in Galway and Clare.
One notable bearer of the Looby name is Major General Joseph H. C. Looby of the US Army. General Looby served as Director of the Army's Record and Review Board, and he was the only non-veteran to be present during the signing one of the Treaty of Versailles. Another holder of the Looby name is R.L. Looby, an Australian artist born in Sydney in 1896. he is known for his oil paintings of landscapes and figure studies, as well as his drawings and prints.
The Looby name is most prominent today in the US and in commonwealth countries, though is somewhat uncommon overall. Despite its rarity, the strong familial connections linking back to Gaelic origins are undeniable. Today, Loobys can be proud of their shared heritage and the shared values of creativity, daring, and loyalty that unite them.
Variations of the surname Looby
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Looby can vary greatly from region to region. In some parts of the world, the spelling may be "Luby," "Lubby," "Lubey," "Lubbee," "Leubey" or "Leuby." Other variations include "Lobie," "Lobby," "Leoby," "Leboey" and "Loybie."
In Ireland, some alternate spellings of the surname Looby are "Luffey," "Luffie," "Luffey," "Luffy," "Loubey," "Lubey," "Louby," "Luffey," "Lobey," "Lubee," "Lobey," "Lobey," "Lobie," "Lobbee," "Looby," "Lobbi," "Lubbi" and "Lubey."
In Scotland, the surname Looby is sometimes spelled "Luiby," "Lubbie," "Luby" or "Lubbe." Yet other variations in Scotland include "Lubbi," "Libby," "Ligby," "Lubby," and "Loby."
In England, the variant spellings of Looby are "Lobby," "Lobee," "Lubey," "Luby," "Lubbi," "Lowby," "Lobby," and "Lobbie." There are many other spellings of the surname that are found in England, such as "Lobby," "Lobidge," "Lowby," "Lobley," "Lobbe," "Lubey," "Lubie," "Lobbin," "Lubbee," "Leboey," "Lebbey," "Lobboon" and "Lebbie."
In the United States, some of the spellings found for the surname Looby are "Loobey," "Lubey," "Lobbie," "Lobbee," "Luby," "Lobey," "Lobbe," "Libby," "Lubby," "Libbie" and "LAbby."
Overall, the variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin that are found in various regions of the world for Looby can vary and be extremely diverse.
Famous people with the name Looby
- Daniel Looby: Irish professional footballer
- Michaella Looby: Australian actress, best known for her role in the TV movie Passage to Siliou
- Michael Looby: Irish actor and singer
- Jeff Looby: American actor
- Christine Looby: former Canadian Member of Parliament and senator
- Patrick Looby: Australian actor and screenwriter
- Claire Looby: Irish musician and producer
- Blake Looby: Irish singer and songwriter
- Sean Looby: Canadian Olympic athlete
- Dan Looby: British television and radio presenter
- John Looby: American professional basketball player
- Sophie Looby: British sportscaster
- Jonathan Looby: American film and television director and screenwriter
- Lianne Looby: British television presenter
- Melinda Looby: Australian sports presenter and newsreader