Surname Garbers - Meaning and Origin

Garbers: What does the surname Garbers mean?

The surname Garbers is of German origin and has its roots in the Middle Ages. It derives from the archaic German word 'gar', meaning 'spear', and 'bier', meaning 'bear'. This suggests the surname holders were either a class of medieval warriors known as 'garbiers', or 'garbearers' - those 'bearing a spear' - or that the name was derived from a medieval nickname for a large, strong man, hence 'the bear who carries a spear'.

Garbers is a relatively uncommon surname, especially outside German-speaking regions. The first recorded bearer of the name was one Konrad Garner, who appears in documents from the German city of Speyer in the late 12th century. Popularity of the surname has since spread to countries such as Holland, Belgium and France.

Garbers today typically represent highly ambitious individuals, who prioritize hard work and order. They espouse a work-ethic that is highly structured, which parallels the organized way of living, and the criteria of distance and discipline they had in their medieval forebears.

In conclusion, the last name Garbers is derived from the archaic German word 'gar', and 'bier', and most likely denotes individuals who had a strong, bear-like physicality combined with an aptitude for warfare. Today, individuals named Garbers strive for order, hard work and structure, in much the same way their ancestors did, centuries ago.

Garbers: Where does the name Garbers come from?

The last name Garbers is a German surname derived from the personal name Garcia, meaning 'brave with a spear.' It is commonly found in Germany, particularly in Baden-Württemberg in the southwest and the former East Germany. It can also be found in Austria, the Netherlands, and other countries with a significant German-speaking population. It is also fairly common in the United States due to German immigration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Garbers is relatively popular in many major American cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. It is also present in smaller cities such as Cleveland, Toledo, Milwaukee, and Detroit; these cities have large populations of German descent. Garbers is also found in Canada, particularly in Ontario and Manitoba, as a result of 19th century German immigration in these regions.

As a surname, Garbers is quite uncommon in England, Wales, and Scotland, despite the significant migration of Germans to these parts of the British Isles during the Industrial Revolution. The last name has, however, been recorded in Ireland, most likely due to 19th century migration of German Jews to Irish shores.

Variations of the surname Garbers

The variants, spellings and surnames of Garbers originate from the Middle Dutch word “Garber”, meaning a manufacturer of combs. It is most commonly found as Garber or Garbers but can also be spelt Gerber, Garver, Garbar or Garbaras.

Garber is the more traditional spelling, but both Garbers and Garver are now the more common versions. Gerber does exist, but it is more associated with another German surname and Northeast German variation of Garber i.e. Gerber.

Other variants of Garbers, and variations of spelling it are; Garbar, Garbaras, Garbarowicz, Garbarski, Garbarczyk, Garbersky, Garbaruk, Garbarsky, Garbarskiy, Garbarskyy, Garbarska, and Garbarske. While the spelling is less commonly seen, this is the spelling you are likely to encounter in Eastern Europe. It is also sometimes found spelt as Garburg.

Surnames sharing the same origin as Garbers include Gerber, Garbar, Garbarczyk, Garbarsky, Gerald and Gear. These surnames may be found in different locations to Garbers, as the spelling of these names varies slightly from region to region.

In some cases, the original Garber spelling is still in use today, and it is widely used across Europe and the United States.

Famous people with the name Garbers

• Michael J. Garber: American theatre director and dramaturg
• Jarryd Garbers: South African race car driver
• Jonathan Garbers: American actor and writer
• Raphael Garbers: Danish professional soccer player
• Matt Garbers: American musician and former lead guitarist of the band Motion City Soundtrack
• Jack Garbers: American voice actor and stand-up comedian
• John Garbers: Major General of the United States Air Force
• Tim Garbers: American baseball player
• Victoria Garbers: Russian visual artist and sculptor
• Mike Garbers: American boxer
• Calvin Garbers: American composer and music producer
• Marika Garbers: German actress
• Sam Garbers: German film director and screenwriter
• Hans-Dieter Garbers: German politician
• Joe Garbers: American actor and author
• Jim Garbers: American tennis instructor
• René Garbers: German football player and manager
• Henning Garbers: German tourist guide, lecturer, and author
• Patrick Garbers: German professional hockey player
• Robert Garbers: American visual artist and illustrator

Other surnames

GarberGärberGarbert