Surname Grebner - Meaning and Origin
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Grebner: What does the surname Grebner mean?
Grebner is a German surname of patronymic origin, derived from the given name Greb, which was derived from the Middle High German "greb" meaning "scratch" or "dig".
The Grebner surname first appears in early records in the 14th century, where it is recorded in the southern German regions of Baden, Bavaria, and Württemberg. The earliest known ancestor of the Grebner line was a man named Johannes Grebner, born c. 1300. His descendants scattered across Germany, with many moving to the Palatinate region. Later generations of Grebner families spread to the areas of Prussia, Hungary, and Slovenia. During the 18th and 19th centuries many Grebner families immigrated to areas such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
People with the Grebner surname often had occupations that involved agricultural labor or working with animals. As well as being farmers and herdsmen, some may have been fur traders or tanners. Composite information from early records indicate that members of the Grebner family were most likely hardworking people who had a certain dogged determination, which was reflected in the deep cultural and historical meaning of the surname’s origin.
Order DNA origin analysisGrebner: Where does the name Grebner come from?
The last name Grebner is a German surname that is most common today in the State of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany. It is also recorded in other German-speaking countries such as Austria and Switzerland. Other than Europe, Grebner is most common in the United States, particularly in the states of Alabama, Michigan, Kansas, and Ohio.
In Germany, records of the name Grebner date back to 1295 in Bavaria. The spelling of the name has changed over time, but the root is derived from the old German "gruban" meaning "to make a hole or burrow". The name has also been recorded as Greber, Grebner, Grebbing, and Greppner in other parts of Germany.
In the United States, records of the name Grebner first appeared in the mid-1800s associated with Bavarian immigrants. It is most likely that the name arrived in the United States through Pennsylvania-German migration. Today, the majority of German immigrants to the United States are of the Protestant denomination, though Grebner is more likely to have a Catholic origin.
Overall, the last name Grebner is quite rare, though it can be found in small pockets around the world. It is particularly common in Germany, particularly in Baden-Württemberg, and in areas of the United States where the Pennsylvania-German migration settled. Records of the name date back to the late-1200s in Germany, and it has been noted in various forms throughout the years.
Variations of the surname Grebner
Grebner is a surname of Germanic origin. The variants of this surname include Grebner, Grebiner, Grebnerr, Grebnerr, Grebneyer, Grubner, Grübner, Kribner, Kripner, and Kriebner.
The variation of this surname is mainly due to dialectal differences in Germanic language. For example, the letter "b" can be pronounced similarly as either a "b" or a "p". Additionally, the letter "i" can sometimes be replaced with the letter "e" in some dialects.
The surname Grebner is also the Americanized spelling of the German surname Grübner. This surname is derived from the German word “Grübner”, which means “flatterer”.
The variants of this surname have evolved over time. In some cases, the spellings have been changed to fit in with the English language. Additionally, some spellings have been simplified over time due to difficulty in pronouncing longer words.
Furthermore, some individuals may have adopted a variation of their name as their surname. This was done to avoid discrimination or persecution of their family name.
Overall, the most common variants of the surname Grebner are Grebner, Grübner, Kribner, and Kripner. However, other spellings and variants such as Kriebner, Grebiner, Grebneyer, and Grubner may occasionally be encountered.
Famous people with the name Grebner
- Hans Grebner: German luger who competed in the late 1960s and early 1970s; won a representation of the West German flag at the 1972 Winter Olympics
- Brigitte Grebner: Swiss ski mountaineer who has participated in multiple major events in Europe.
- Rick Grebner: Vocals in the punk rock band ‘No Warning’.
- Katja Grebner: German designer, event manager and campaigner for sustainability.
- Sascha Grebner: German mixed martial artist who fought in the middleweight division in the now-defunct International Fight League.
- Peter Grebner: Saxophonist with the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra.
- Karl Grebner: Former German football goalkeeper, who won two Bundesliga titles in a seven-year career.
- Frank Grebner: American hurdler who was the United States' top-ranked 100 meter hurdler in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
- Horst Grebner: also known as "Mr. Schnitzel", Grebner is a noted German caterer and restaurateur who is sometimes credited with inventing the schnitzel sandwich.
- Derek Grebner: Former NHL ice hockey player.