It would appear that among the Normans who came over with or followed William the Conqueror were a family named Gobion(s) who received grants of land located mainly in Essex, Herts, Beds, and Northants, These estates still bear the name and are shewn on old and modern maps, the spelling varying considerably on the different maps according to age. One such is mentioned in many old maps of Hertfordshire, and lies in the S.E. corner of the County not far from Potters Bar. Through Hawise co-heiress with her sister Elizabeth of Richard Gobion, it passed together with other lands to the de Boteler family, in the reign of Edward II, vide Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire 1700 by Sir Henry Chauncey under the Manor of Gobions, also Clutterbuck'€™s History of County of Hertford. This was purchased by the More family and via his father, Sir John More, to Sir (Saint) Thomas More. The More family continued to live there for many generations before being sold in 1695. Finally, the Old Manor was pulled down about 1840 by Mr. Gaussen who built Brookman'€™s Hall. This, in turn, was burned down in 1891. The land thereabouts is still marked as 'Gubbins' and is still so referred to by locals. Similar attribution to 'Gubbins' has taken place in respect of Gobion-owned estates in Essex.

Of course, the similarity in name does not necessarily mean that Gubbins are direct descendants of the Norman Gobion family but that when it became necessary to adopt surnames in about the year 1300, the tenants and residents on the estates took the place name, or that of the lord of the manor, as their surname.

The first Gubbins to be found outside of England became established at the end of the 17th Century in Co Limerick in southern Ireland. Of these the mainly protestant Church of Ireland families are those of Maidstown Castle, Kilfrush and Kenmare Castle branches. There is also a very substantial RC set of families also in Limerick which possibly constitute sub-branches of the Kilfrush branch. However, the connection has yet to be found for certain. The many branches in the USA stem almost exclusively from the RC branches of Limerick which recent DNA analysis has confirmed.