Surname Leibert - Meaning and Origin
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Leibert: What does the surname Leibert mean?
The last name Leibert is an Anglicized form of the German surname Liebert or Liebrecht. It is derived from the Old German word "liut," meaning “people," and the Old High German word "beraht," meaning “bright.” Altogether, the name Leibert can be translated to mean "people of the bright spirit," or more broadly, "noble people."
Leibert is believed to have been given to people living in the lower Germanic region of the Middle Ages, and whose ancestors had achieved some level of business success. As they moved up the social ranks, they began to take on noble titles symbolizing their elevated status. So while Liebrecht meant "people of the bright spirit," Leibert was used to denote those considered higher in society.
Today Leibert is still a relatively uncommon name, with no one definite origin. Those with the family name are likely linked through a common ancestor with the same name, rather than necessarily through family lineage.
Although the details of the exact origin of the name is unknown, Leibert, appears to have been passed down throughout the centuries. Its translations and implications suggest a sense of nobility, wealth and wisdom.
Order DNA origin analysisLeibert: Where does the name Leibert come from?
The last name Leibert is a rare surname today, but it is most commonly found in countries such as Canada, the United States, and France. In the United States, it is found mainly in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. It is also very common in Canadian provinces such as Quebec and Ontario. In France, Leibert is primarily found in the region of Alsace-Lorraine.
In terms of its origin, Leibert is believed to have been a patronymic name derived from a Germanic personal name Liebhart. Its meaning is "beloved prince" or "nobleman." The earliest records of the Leibert family date back to the 13th century when they were first documented in the Upper German States such as Württemberg, Bavaria, and Swabia.
The numbers of people carrying the name Leibert have decreased considerably over the years, with roughly 2,980 people bearing the surname in the United States as of 2020. However, despite its relative rarity, its presence is still quite notable, especially in the Midwest.
Variations of the surname Leibert
The surname Leibert is a German-origin name, derived from the Middle High German term "leberecht" which means "free ruler". The variants of this surname include Liebrecht, Liable, Libhardt, Lippert, Lybrecht, Liabwert, Leibrichtma, Leiphart, Leifbild, Leippard, and Lebereit.
The most common alternate spelling of Leibert is Liebrecht. It is typically found in records of German immigrants to the United States and Canada given regional pronunciation and dialectal differences. The variant Libhardt is also used in the United States. Leiphardt, a combination of Leibert and Libhardt, is used much less frequently.
In its anglicized form, the surname thus acquired spellings such as Libhart, Leippert, and Lybrecht. During the 19th century in particular, when many Germans visited England, most of the anglicized spellings of Leibert were found in English documents.
In the German-speaking parts of Europe, the surname Leibert was also sometimes spelled as Lebricht or Lebrich. Other, more rare spellings, include Leibrichtma, Leifbild, Leippard, and Lebereit.
Most of the variants of Leibert have multiple permutations, and often include switching the order of the two elements, Lib-hardt and Leiber-t. It is not unusual to find these variants occurring in modern-day records of genealogical research.
Famous people with the name Leibert
- Jerry Leiber: Songwriter and record producer responsible for several hit songs, including “Hound Dog” and “Jailhouse Rock”.
- Mark Leibert: American jazz violinist.
- John Laiburt: American architect and artist best known for designing furniture and interiors for some of the top names in the design world.
- Walter Leibert: German film director and screenwriter.
- Henry Leibert: Austrian singer and actor.
- Johannes Leibert: German archaeologist and numismatist who was renowned for his studies of early Greek coins.
- Beth Leibert: American children's book author.
- Jacob Leibert: Austrian soldier who fought in the Seven Years' War.
- Amos Leibert: German-American fashion designer who rose to fame in the 1920s.
- Felix Leibert: German dentist and political activist who was imprisoned during the Third Reich.