Surname Scoby - Meaning and Origin
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Scoby: What does the surname Scoby mean?
The last name Scoby is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Asgaibh," which translates to "son of Asgab." It is believed to have originated from Old Norse name "Ásgeirr," which is composed of the elements "ás," meaning god and "geirr," meaning spear. The name was brought to Ireland by the Vikings and later adopted by the Irish. Scoby is mainly found in Counties Wexford and Wicklow on the east coast of Ireland. It is a relatively uncommon surname and could possibly indicate a person’s ancestry with the Vikings, or their descent from a family bestowed with the task of defending their community, referencing the spear in the original Norse meaning. Like many surnames, interpretations vary and it may have different meanings in different cultures.
Order DNA origin analysisScoby: Where does the name Scoby come from?
The last name Scoby can be found in many places across the world today, but its most common location is in North America. The highest concentration of people with this name live in the United States, and there are significant numbers of them living in Canada, too.
The United States was an immigration destination for many people with the surname Scoby in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when folk from many European countries left their homelands to make their future in America. Many immigrants chose the Scoby name as a sign of identity and permanence.
Today the Scoby name is represented mostly in the South and Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. According to some genealogy and surname reports, Scoby is also among the top 500 surnames in the states of Kansas and Tennessee. There are Scoby families in other states, many of whom are descendants of their long line of Southerners.
Outside of North America, the name Scoby can be found in Australia, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. While the origin of the surname is uncertain, research shows that it may have derived from a Scottish nickname that means “brave.”
No matter where it originated, the Scoby name carries a long tradition of strength and courage that is recognizable in many countries today.
Variations of the surname Scoby
The surname Scoby is thought to have originated in northern England and is also occasionally found in Scotland. It is a patronymic or habitational name derived from the Old English pre 7th century word ‘scoob’ meaning ‘hollow’. It would have been originally a name given to someone who lived in or near a hollow. Variants or spellings of the surname Scoby include Scooby, Scoobey, Scoobie, Scobey, and Skobie. Surnames of similar origins include Scooby, Scobee, Scobey, Skobee, Skobe, and Scobey.
Any of these surnames could represent a branch of the same family taking a slightly different form of their original surname as it passed down through the generations. It is also likely that a number of different families adopted the same surname independently of each other and different spellings could have developed from that.
Scoby is a rare surname and it is likely to be a variant of other surnames that have developed over time such as Scooby, Scobee, Scobey, Skobee, Skobe, and Scobey. Therefore it is possible that the Scoby surname could be related to other surnames of similar origins. Researching the wider family histories of the surnames could lead to a greater understanding of any potential links between them.
Famous people with the name Scoby
- Mark Scoby: Two-time Emmy Award Winning Producer/Comedian
- Tony Scoby: Professional football player in the NFL
- Judge Rolling Scoby: Judge in the Texas Supreme Court
- Donna Scoby: Professional volleyball player
- Woody Scoby: Actor, singer and songwriter best known for his role in the movie Grease
- Derek Scoby: Professional basketball player
- Scott Scoby: Professional baseball player
- Justin Scoby: Professional golfer
- Randy Scoby: Renowned surgeon
- Dr. Robert Scoby: Researcher in Organic Chemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara