Noble
A surname that usually began as a nickname for someone of noble bearing, status, or appearance.
The #829 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 7,410 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The surname Noble comes from the common medieval word for someone of high rank or distinguished character, ultimately from Latin nobilis, meaning “well-known,” “famous,” or “noble.” In English and Anglo-Norman usage it could be attached as a nickname to a person thought to be noble in status, manners, or looks. Some early forms were also influenced by French spellings such as Noble and Noblet.
History
Lower explicitly treats Noble as a descriptive surname, saying it could refer either to a person’s physical bearing or to social rank. Harrison likewise derives it from Anglo-French and Latin, and notes related French forms such as Noblet as common surnames. The name became established in Britain and later spread widely through the English-speaking world, where it remains common.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same medieval root that gave English noble also produced surnames in French such as Le Noble and diminutive forms like Noblet.
From the historical record
“NOBB.S, Nobb's (Son) : y. Nobb. NOBLE (A.-Fr.-Lat.) [Fr. nople; Lat. nobil-is, welltknown, noble] NOBLET ] I = Noble (q.v.) + the Fr. dim. NOBLETT Uuff. -ei. NOBLITT J 2 = Nob (v. Nobb) + the Fr. double dim. suff. -el-el. Noblet is a common French surname.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)