Surname Gisbert - Meaning and Origin
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Gisbert: What does the surname Gisbert mean?
The last name Gisbert is of German origin and comes from the given name Gisbert. This name is derived from the Proto-Germanic elements ‘gisil’ meaning ‘pledge’ or ‘hostage’ and ‘berht’ meaning ‘bright’ or ‘famous’, yielding an overall meaning of ‘bright pledge’ or ‘famous hostage’.
In the Middle Ages, the family likely found its place as a noble family. This name traces its origin back to the Lower Germanic region of Lower Saxony back during the 13th century.
In most cases, the variant spelling of Gisbert is found in the German areas of Saxony and Brandenburg, as exemplified by Gisbert von Oeren, a bishop of Halberstadt and Magdeburg from 1301-1313.
It is believed that the Gisbert family has left its mark on the geography of Lower Saxony, donating their name to a tiny village in that region.
It is also interesting to note that alongside Gisbert, there is also a more modern French version of the name which is Germain, meaning the same thing.
At the end of the day, the name Gisbert can be said to be a source of pride among those who bear the name, tracing their ancestry back to the Germanic lands of the past. Its meaning of ‘bright pledge’ or ‘famous hostage’ serves to strengthen this feeling for those who claim the surname.
Order DNA origin analysisGisbert: Where does the name Gisbert come from?
The last name Gisbert is most commonly found in Spanish-speaking countries today. The name originates from the Germanic personal name Gisbert, which is a combination of popular names Giso and Berthold.
In Spain, the name is mostly common in the regions of Castile-Leon, Aragon, Valencia, and Andalusia. It is also common in some of the Latin American countries that were formerly ruled by Spain, such as Argentina, Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador.
Within Spain, the prevalence of the name is generally higher in more rural, mountainous areas such as Navarra and Galicia. One of the most famous bearers of the last name is Agustin Gisbert, a Spanish entrepreneur and aristocrat who lived in the 19th century.
There are some pockets of Gisbert in other countries as well. In the Netherlands, for example, the last name is found mostly in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Similarly, the name is present in small numbers in the United States.
Given its mostly Spanish-speaking origin, the last name Gisbert is most commonly associated with Latin American countries today. However, it can still be found in other places around the world in small numbers.
Variations of the surname Gisbert
The surname Gisbert is written in different variants and spellings of the same origin. These variants are Giesbert, Giesberts, Gisberts, Gijsberts, Gijsbert, Gijbert, Gisbert, and Giesbarts. This name is of German origin and is believed to have originated from an Old German personal name Giskbert, the combination of two words ‘gis’ meaning venture or pledge and ‘bert’ which is a form of the Germanic name Berht which means bright and famous.
In England and Wales, the name is mainly confined to Wales and South West of England. In Germany, the name is common around the region of Wuerttemberg and western Bavaria. The name was also found in Amsterdam where the name was first mentioned in 17th century.
Variants of the name are Giesbert(in Germany), Gyzbert (in Scandinavia), Gibbert (in France), Giebs (in Belgium), Gysberts (in Netherlands). There are some different spellings like Gysbert, Gisburt, Gisbrecht, Gysbertus, Gijsebert, Gijsbret, Gijsbrert, Gisbrechts and Gijsbrechts.
Surnames derived from the same family are Pisner, Giebser, Gisbertus and Gizburt. This name is also linked to the title Lord Gisbert van Amstel in Netherlands. The title was used by the Gijsbert families at the time of Haarlem Covenant in 1637.
Famous people with the name Gisbert
- Eloy Gisbert: Spanish basketball coach, current head coach of UCAM Murcia Club de Baloncesto
- Carles Gisbert: Spanish Futsal player, current vice-captain of ElPozo Murcia Costa Cálida
- Albert Gisbert: Spanish jazz guitarist
- David Gisbert: Spanish actor, known for roles in the television series Cuéntame Cómo Pasó
- Griselda Gisbert: Spanish figure skater, competed at the 2019 ISU Nebelhorn Trophy
- Anne Gisbert: French Paralympic swimmer, won Gold at the 2007 IPC Swimming World Championships
- Miguel Gisbert: Spanish philosopher, considered to be an important figure in modern phenomenology
- Antonio Gisbert: Spanish cyclist, won stages at the 1948 Vuelta a España
- Salvador Gisbert: Spanish football manager, managed UD Almería and Hércules CF
- Xavier Gisbert: Spanish sculptor, works on public monuments and large-scale pieces