Webb

Webb is a surname of English origin, historically an occupational name for a weaver. The spelling Webb is common today, with variants such as Webbe and Web reflecting historical pronunciation and regional differences. The name is widespread in English-speaking regions and appears in records dating to the medieval period.

Notable people with the surname include James E. Webb, an American administrator who led NASA during much of the Apollo era; Webb Simpson, an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour; and Webb Pierce, an American country music singer. The surname is also found in various place names and institutions, reflecting its long-standing presence in English-speaking societies.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a major infrared observatory named in part after James E. Webb. Launched in 2021, it operates at the second Lagrange point (L2) and is designed to observe the early universe, galaxies, and exoplanets with a 6.5-meter primary mirror. It represents a successor in space-based astronomy to the Hubble Space Telescope and is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.

Webb, as a surname, thus encompasses an occupational origin, a number of notable individuals, and a prominent scientific instrument that bears the name.