..... another University Open Day for Harriet. And this my alma mater. The Library has expanded somewhat from the time I was there. A quick dip into the reference section led me to The Dictionary of English & Welsh Surnames by C W BARDSLEY, published in 1901. KNIBB is there and word for word appears the Isabel nickname wording that appears in the Family Names Origin sheet that Alex KNIBBS kindly brought to Warwick. There's no mention of Edward from Yorkshire but John NYBBE from Somerset appears in the NIBBS entry. (You didn't have to wait too long, Graham!). After repeating the KNIBB entry, some additional material there says "Isabel had a great many nicks, the name being very popular in its day which happened to be the hereditary surname period'. It also gives NOBBS as a contraction of Robert. Well, I remain sceptical but another entry for NIBLET has set me thinking. I've come across this (and variations) and dismissed as being beyond the scope of our One Name Study. But BARDSLEY says this means son of NIB. Perhaps we should keep our eyes pealed for the earliest NIBLETs from now on? I mentioned John NYBBE above and Muriel will be thrilled to learn that a reference for this find is given. It is 'Kirby's Quest page 257'. Who can find Kirby's Quest? There are references for the other names that appear on the Family Origins sheet but these are just numbers which I suspect all relate to published items eg marriage licences in London. A conflict appears. Sarah JOHNSON is given by BARDSLEY as Sarah JOHNAWAY SGHS i 398. An additional entry is William NIBBS marriage to Mary BETTS St george's Chapel, Mayfair p75. Also Isaac KNIBBS who married Elizabeth HAWKINS is given as coming from Northampton - St Antholin London p146. William KNEBB's marriage to Susan AWSTEN would be shown as 1605 in the database rather than 1604, being before 25th March. Seek and ye shall find. bfn Alan