Webb Surname DNA Project

Welcome to the Webb Surname DNA Project website. We are a large group of genealogists who have chosen to incorporate the science of DNA into our research to help break through our “brick walls,” find relatives and strengthen paper trails.

Project Overview - 2024

The WEBB Surname DNA Project began in February of 2002 with two participants who were hopeful of a match. Other participants quickly followed as Webb researchers learned about the potential of this valuable genealogical tool. In its earliest stages, the project mainly focused on Webb families of the Southeast. Over the years it has expanded to include hundreds of members from all regions of the United States, as well as participants from England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. We now enjoy a membership of over 650 participants.

Included in the list of the many successes of the project are the establishment in 2004 of the Christopher Webb line of Baintree, Massachusetts, and the Jonathan Webb line of Stamford, Connecticut. In 2005 our first trans-Atlantic match occurred when a Wiltshire, England participant matched a Southern Webb family. We continue to make new trans-Atlantic matches. In 2012 a descendant of Humphrey Webb b. c1600 of Oxfordshire, England made a DNA match to several Virginia members, and descendants of John Webb b. 1694 m. Mary Boone of Pennsylvania made a DNA match to a descendant of John Webb b. 1795 of Co. Armagh, Ireland.

All WEBBs are welcome to participate in the project. Our goal is to continue to grow to include all lines of the WEBB surname, from the early families of Colonial America to lines around the world.

WEBB

1. English and Scottish: occupational name for a weaver, early Middle English webbe, from Old English webba (a primary derivative of wefan ‘to weave’; compare Weaver 1). 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.

[Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press]

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Surnames were originally adopted out of necessity as civilization became more complex. When governments were formed, and religion became organized, it was necessary to adopt names that would define one person from another with the same given name. There is some indication that when taxes became a part of society, surnames quickly followed.

English surnames in particular arose from several different origins. Some were formed from the given name of the father, with prefixes or suffixes added and used to mean “son of” as seen in names like Williamson and Thomason. Or the use of "Mac" as in McDonald, meaning "son of" Donald in Gaelic. Other prefixes of this kind are O’ as in O’ Neil and Fitz, as in Fitzpatrick.

A second type of surname was taken from the personal characteristics of a person. Examples of this are the surnames Good, Short, White and Wise. A third came from a person’s locality or the place in which they lived. This is thought to be the largest class of surnames and was adopted by royalty and nobility. This type was introduced to England by the Normans.

The final type of surname was derived from occupations. This came into use before the Norman Conquest. Some names of this type were official names such as Chamberlain, Alderman and Deacon. But trade and craft names were also adopted. One of these occupational surnames is WEBB or WEBBE, which originally was the name for a male “weaver of cloth.”

One of the first written examples of the surname was the name Osbert Webbe in the county of Suffolk, listed in the pipe rolls. But, according to surnamedb.com, the oldest known record to include this family name is the “Olde English Byname Register.” Recorded in this register is the name "Alger se Webba" and it dates to about the year 1100 during the reign of King William the Second [1087-1100].

Because occupations didn’t necessarily conform to any rules of geography or place, it was natural that many families over a broad geographical area adopted the surname WEBB and this could account for so many families sharing the name WEBB without sharing the same ancestry.

[Information compiled from: ramsdale.org & surnamedb.com].

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Project Administrator: Eileen Sturner

New Participants Only!

If you are already a member of the Webb Surname DNA Project and would like to upgrade or do additional testing, you must order the tests through your existing FTDNA webpage and kit #. Please contact the Administrator if you have any questions or need assistance.

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Most Wanted Webb Lines

Below is an ongoing list of "most wanted Webb lines" for our project. We are actively looking for donors from proven or probable descendants of these Webb families. In some cases, there may be scholarships available. If you are from one of these Webb families or know someone who is and are interested in participating, or if you are a member and would like to add a name to this list, please contact the administrator.

Richard Holden Webb m. Frances Orme 1797, Essendon, Hertfordshire

William Webb m. Mourning Pruitt in Goochland Co. and of Paul's Creek, Patrick Co. VA

Robert Webb m. Eliza Judkins of Surry/Southampton Co. VA

Johnston Webb b. 1745 of Caswell/Person Co. NC m. Gussy McCarver

William Webb b. 1745 Essex Co. VA m. Frances Young - of Granville Co. NC

Timothy Webb of Queen Anne Co. MD

John Webb m. Winifred of Bertie Co. NC

John Webb m. Margaret Rhodes of Bertie Co. NC - "Merry Hill Webbs"

Henry Webb d. 1758 [murdered] of Orange Co. NC, sons Wentworth, John and Thomas

John Webb d. 1749 Northampton Co. NC, sons James, Jesse and Jolly Webb

Wentworth Webb of Goochland Co. VA

Anthony Webb of Bertie Co. NC, sons Samuel & William

Benjamin Webb m. Rhoda of Rockingham Co. NC

Gilbert Webb b. bet. 1805-1818 Rutherford Co. NC

Richard Webb the Quaker b. 1656 Gloucester, England, d. PA, m. Elizabeth

John Webb m. Betty Sears of Barnstable, MA

Thomas Webb b. 1801, d. 1851, cabinet maker in Hackney, London England.

Contact the Administrator

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News

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Mystery Webb Photo #1

Can you identify this Webb? Here is a mystery person for the Webb genealogist who likes a challenge. According to the writing on the back, her name was Minnie Laudig Webb. The photo was taken in Richmond, Wayne Co., Indiana which borders Ohio. Who was she?

Minnie Laudig m. Frank S. Webb of Wayne Co. Indiana:

It appears that Minnie Laudig Webb was married to Frank S. Webb of Wayne Co., Indiana. Frank and Minnie's age in the 1920 census shows their births to be in 1871 or 1872. Who were Frank S. Webb's parents and who were Minnie Laudig's parents?

1920 Wayne Co. Indiana Census

Frank S. Webb 48 born Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born in Ohio

Minnie E. Webb 48 born Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born in Indiana

In 1910, Frank S. and Minnie E. Webb have two children, Howard L. Webb, age 12 and Queen E. Webb, age 5. In 1910 Frank S. Webb claimed that both of his parents were born in Ohio. This contradicts both the 1920 census and 1900 census where he claimed his father was born in Indiana. Frank S. Webb is a machinist in 1910.

1910 Wayne Co. Indiana Census

Frank S. Webb 38 born Indiana; father born in Ohio; mother born in Ohio

Minnie E. Webb 38 born in Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born Indiana

Howard L. Webb 12 born in Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born Indiana

Queen E. Webb 5 born in Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born Indiana

In 1900, Minnie and Frank S. Webb were living with Frank's 64 year old mother, Sarah J. Webb b. May 1836 in Ohio. Also in the household was Minnie and Frank S. Webb's son, Howard L. Webb, age 3. Frank L. Webb stated to the census taker that his profession was a tractor engine builder.

1900 Wayne Co. Indiana Census

Sarah J. Webb 64 born Ohio; father born in PA; mother born in Kentucky

Frank S. Webb 28 born Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born in Ohio

Minnie E. Webb 28 born Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born in Indiana

Howard L. Webb 3 born Indiana; father born in Indiana; mother born in Indiana

There were other Webbs in the 1900 Wayne Co. census, but none appear to be other children of Sarah J. Webb b. 1836 based upon the fact that none of them claimed their father as born in Indiana and their mother born in Ohio.

Minnie Laudig was found in 1880 in Richmond, Wayne Co. IN in the household of her father Theodore J. Ludwig [Laudig], age 37 with wife Jennie. She was age 7 and had sisters: Lillie, Elizabeth, Bessie and Bertha. Theodore was a carriage painter. It appears that Minnie E. Laudig Webb did not know that her father, Theodore Laudig was born in PA [per census]. She told the census taker that he was born in IN. There was another Laudig in Wayne Co. IN in 1870. His name was William Ludwig, age 40, b. Wertenburg. He also had a daughter named Lillie.

An IGI record at LDS states that Theodore Laudig was the son of Solomon Ludwig b. 1813 PA, m. Elizabeth Barltemay on Dec 6, 1835 in Germantown, Wayne Co. IN. Both Solomon and Elizabeth Bartlemay Laudig are reportedly buried in Wayne Co. IN. An ancestral file at LDS states that Theodore John Laudig married Jennie Rebecca A. Baumer.

This website has been created for the advancement of genealogical research of the Webb surname and its sole purpose is to be informational and educational to those researching their Webb ancestry.

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Banner Image:

Put-In-Bay, Lake Erie, Ohio, cropped. The War of 1812.

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?809015

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