The surname NABB is a corruption of the name Neighbour and was derived from the medieval word "Nechebure" "neah" meaning near and "gebur" meaning dweller. This may have been used as a nickname for someone who was a good neighbour, or more probably as a term of address. The name is also spelt NEIGHBOUR, NAYBOUR and NABER. Early records of the name appear in the Domesday book of St Pauls for Hertfordshire. In 1222 one Ralph Nechebur is documented and in 1309 a William le Neybere is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls for Bedfordshire. Bartholomew Neighebour appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327. Thomas Neighbour of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Surnames having a derivation from nicknames form the broadest and most miscellaneous class of surnames, encompassing many different types of origin. The most typical classes refer adjectivally to the general physical aspect of the person concerned, or to his character. Many nicknames refer to a man's size or height, while others make reference to a favoured article of clothing or style of dress. Many surnames derived from the names of animals and birds. In the Middle Ages ideas were held about the characters of other living creatures, based on observation, and these associations were reflected and reinforced by large bodies of folk tales featuring animals behaving as humans. Later instances of the name include Adam Neighbore, who was buried at St. Dionis, Backchurch, London in 1585, and Samuell Neyghbor was buried at the same church in 1599. John Frith and Sarah Neighbours, were married in Canterbury, Kent in 1694. Charles August Cramer and Elizabeth Neighbour wed at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1772, and Mose Nabour and Mary Rose married there in 1779. It has long been a matter of doubt when the bearing of coats of arms first became hereditary and it was not until the Crusades that Heraldry came into general use. Men went into battle heavily armed and were difficult to recognise. It became the custom for them to adorn their helmets with distinctive crests, and to paint their shields with animals and the like. Coats of arms accompanied the development of surnames, becoming hereditary in the same way. The lion depicted in the arms is the noblest of all wild beasts which is made to be the emblem of strength and valour, and is on that account the most frequently borne in Coat-Armour. |
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