Gibbon the ape
Everyone with the surname
Gibbon wonders if it is something to do with the apes called
gibbons.
The answer is complex, and may be yes.
The name "gibbon" for the apes (Buffon, 1766)
The family of apes
called gibbons were first given their name in print
by the great French naturalist
Buffon
in 1766 in
Histoire naturelle.
Buffon introduces the word "gibbon" for the apes.
From
p.92
of
Histoire naturelle,
vol.14, Paris, 1766.
English translation of the notes.
From
p.185
of
Buffon's Natural History, English translation,
vol.9, London, 1807.
Origin before Buffon
-
Buffon above says the word "gibbon" was introduced to France
by Joseph Francois Dupleix
(French governor general in India 1742-1754,
died 1763).
- There has been much debate over where the word comes from before this.
Some sources say "gibbon" is French
(perhaps because used by the French in India).
Some say it is native Indian
or native Malaysian.
Other sources say it is
derived from "gib" (see following).
Gilbert, Gibbon and Gib
- The surname Gibbon:
- Gib the cat:
-
Gilbert is
the name of the cat in the fables of
Reynard the Fox (12th century).
-
Perhaps as a result of these stories,
Gilbert or Gib seems to have caught on as a cat's name.
-
"Gibbe"
is the name of the cat in
Chaucer's
"Romaunt of the Rose"
(14th century).
- A
gib
cat
became a word for
a male cat,
especially a castrated male cat.
Possible British origin for the ape name
Entry for "gibbon" on
p.778
of 1910 edn
of
An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language
by
Walter W. Skeat.
Screenshot is from a
reprint.
This suggests quite a plausible theory - that the French in early-mid 18th century India got the name not from the natives
but from the
British in India.
The origin may be related to "gib" the cat.
Or the ape could even be named after some British man called Gibbon.
Gibbon the historian is not the origin
- The most famous person of this surname was
Edward Gibbon the historian.
Though he was not famous until 1776, long after the ape was named.
- It is interesting that
Buffon, who named the gibbon in print in 1766,
knew
Gibbon the historian.
They met
through
Suzanne Curchod (Madame Necker).
- Could Buffon have named the ape after him?
- The dates say no, that clearly did not happen:
- Buffon named the gibbon in 1766, with a clear story of where he got the name.
- Buffon only met Madame Necker in
1774.
- Buffon only met Gibbon in
1777.
Gibbon greatly admired him.
- We can rule out Gibbon the historian
being related to the naming of gibbon the ape.
- However it is fascinating that
some earlier Mr. Gibbon may be the origin of the name.
