Surname Imboden - Meaning and Origin

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J. Imboden

Imboden: What does the surname Imboden mean?

The surname Imboden is of Swiss origin, derived from the region of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. The name is topographic and habitational, referring to someone or a family who resided near a specific geographical feature. While the exact meaning isn’t known, it is believed to be related to a term describing a natural landscape, possibly meaning 'in the ravine’. As with many European surnames, variations of the spelling exist depending on historical context, geography, and regional language differences. The Imboden family name is linked to early European history and individuals carrying this surname can be found worldwide, predominantly in Switzerland, Germany, and the United States. Further research into specific family genealogy may unearth additional details and meanings connected to the surname.

Imboden: Where does the name Imboden come from?

The last name Imboden originates from Switzerland, specifically from the Graubünden canton, which has both German and Romansh-speaking populations. It is believed to be a topographic name for someone who lived around the Bündner Oberland, in a region known as Imboden. Thus, the surname might indicate someone coming from that particular region.

Today, the surname Imboden still has significant prevalence in Switzerland. However, due to immigration and family lineage, it is also found in other parts of the world, particularly in the United States. Notably, an American Civil War figure, John Daniel Imboden, carried this surname. This could have contributed to its spread and use in the U.S. While it's not among the most commonly used surnames, it retains a certain level of recognition within these regions and among those with Swiss ancestry.

Variations of the surname Imboden

The surname Imboden is of Swiss-German origin and is fairly unique; there are not a lot of variant spellings. It was a name given to those who lived in the region of Imboden in the Graubunden canton of Switzerland. It may have been a locational name for people from this region.

Variants of the name could possibly be phonetic spellings based on its pronunciation, though there is little historical record to support this. Such variations could include Imbodan, Imbodin, Imboden, Emboden, Embodan, and Embodin.

Surnames that have a similar origin, being locational from Swiss regions, could include the names Stutzer, which is a name for a person from the Zurich region, or Luzerner, a name for a person from Luzern. Other similar names could include Baselgia (for Basel), Matter (for the Matter Valley), or Genevois (for Geneva).

However, it's important to note that even though these surnames share a Swiss location-based origin, they do not necessarily have the same cultural, historical, or genealogical connections as the surname Imboden.

In terms of surnames with a similar pronunciation, Emberton could potentially be a variant, though it is of English origin.

Famous people with the name Imboden

• Race Imboden: He is an internationally recognized fencer from the United States. Imboden is a member of the US Fencing Team and has won multiple World Cup individual and team titles. He is also known for his political activism.
• Hank Imboden: Hank, or Henry, Imboden was a professional baseball player. He played as a first baseman for the Kansas City Cowboys of the American Association.
• Dean Imboden: Dean is an American actor who had appeared in numerous TV shows and movies, including "The Wire" and "Homicide: Life on the Street."
• Frank Imboden: He was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Following the war, he served as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives.
• Gus A. Imboden: He was a professional boxer, known as "the Cyclone Wonder," during the early part of the 20th century.
• John Daniel Imboden: An American lawyer, teacher, and author, who was also a Confederate General during the Civil War.
• Bobby Imboden: He is a former professional footballer from Switzerland. He spent his career playing for several Swiss clubs.

Other surnames

Imbody