The spelling of "tibbets" is phonetically represented as /ˈtɪbɪts/. This word is typically spelled with a double "b" and a single "t." The "i" is pronounced with a short vowel sound as in "tip" and the final "s" is a voiced consonant sound. This surname likely originated from an Old French personal name "Thibaut," which was brought to England by Norman conquerors. Today, "Tibbets" remains a relatively rare surname in the United States and beyond.