Surname Lieball - Meaning and Origin

Lieball: What does the surname Lieball mean?

Lieball is a German surname. It is derived from a geographical location or settlement, most likely near a body of water, with “Liege” meaning “lake” or “pool.” Locations such as Liebelsberg or Liebelsbach are derived from this term, and likely inspired the surname.

Evidence suggests the Lieball family surname dates back to the late 16th century, when records of the Liebel family name from Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, have been found. During this period, it was common for a prefix to be added to a family’s surname to distinguish them from other families, thus making up the Lieball name.

The Lieball surname is still common in Germany today. Along with German families, Lieball can be found all around Europe as well as in America. American families with this last name most likely trace their roots to German immigrants who arrived in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, the Lieball surname is associated with individuals of Germanic descent, spread all over the world.

Lieball: Where does the name Lieball come from?

The last name Lieball is most commonly found in Germany. According to records from the 1400s, the Lieball family was originally from Frankfurt am Main, but some families with this name migrated to Berlin and other areas. Today, the name continues to be an important part of Germany's population. The Lieball name is found in a variety of German cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart, and Bremen.

The Lieball name is also present in other countries and regions across Europe, including Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. While the name is less common in other places, the Lieball surname can still be found in countries as far away as the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. It is likely that the Lieball family has spread around the world in the wake of German immigration.

In Germany, the Lieball name is associated with a variety of professions and interests. Many Lieballs are still farmers, blacksmiths, or bakers, but the modern Lieball is likely to be engaged in more diverse pursuits. Whether it be business, banking, engineering, or art, the Lieball name has maintained its presence in many German cities and industries.

Variations of the surname Lieball

The surname Lieball is thought to have German and Jewish roots, from pre-17th century Germany or Poland, having several potential variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin.

The most common variant of Lieball is Leibold/Leiboldt, this being the traditional German spelling of the surname and the most common spelling across Europe, including in Germany, Switzerland and Poland. This can also be spelt Leibelt or Leibolz.

In the Jewish tradition, the name was often spelt Levi, Levene or Levin, likely deriving from the Jewish male name, Levi. A variation of the name in some Jewish families is Liebenau, this being a further Germanised version of the name.

Lieball is also a common Americanised version of the name. This is likely to have been taken from the original German or Polish root and adapted to the US. Similarly, another American spelling is Liebold, which is likely to have evolved from the German/Polish spelling of Leibold/Leiboldt.

There may also be further variations on the surname dependent on local dialects, for example, the surname is also spelt as Liebig and Libalid in Slovakia, while variations on the German pronunciation of the name may appear as Libelle and Libolz.

Famous people with the name Lieball

• Ryan Liebau: Ryan Liebau is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1998 to 2001. He played for the Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers.
• David Liebau: David Liebau is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association, and abroad.
• Henry Liebau: Henry Liebau was a German American sculptor active between 1880 and 1962. He was known for creating sculptures in a range of styles, from neoclassical to art nouveau.
• Karl Liebknecht: Karl Liebknecht was a German socialist politician and revolutionary. He is best known for co-founding the Spartacist League and Communist Party of Germany with Rosa Luxemburg.
• Cheryl Liebau: Cheryl Liebau is an American business executive who most recently served as the president and CEO of the marketing firm August Home Inc.
• Hans Liebmann: Hans Liebmann was a German mathematician, natural philosopher, and engineer who made important scientific contributions in astronomy, mechanics, and optics.
• Alfred Liebau: Alfred Liebau was an American pianist, composer, and conductor who was active during the twentieth century. He was known particularly for his arrangement of American popular music.
• Chrystelle Liebaut: Chrystelle Liebaut is a French actress who has appeared in such films as Mesrine: Part 1: Killer Instinct and Inglourious Basterds.
• Franz Liebkind: Franz Liebkind is a fictional character in the comedy musical film The Producers, portrayed by Kenneth Mars.

Other surnames

LiebackLiebalLiebaldLiebaldtLiebalt