Surname Eckbert - Meaning and Origin
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Eckbert: What does the surname Eckbert mean?
Eckbert is a German surname derived from the Germanic name Egen-berht, which has its roots in the Old High German for "edge bright". The name is composed of two elements: Egen, meaning edge, or border, and Berht, meaning bright, glorious or famous. The name is believed to come from the Germanic notion of a ruler at a border or "edge" of a kingdom.
The name has been used in Germany since the 11th and 12th centuries as a title for those holding positions of leadership in the kingdom's military or government. An early example of its use is by Egenberht II, an 11th century count of Babenberg, and a descendent of Leutpold of Bavaria.
Eckbert is an occupational surname for a border guard or official. It may also be a topographical name, referring to someone who lived near a boundary line or border. Today, the name is still found prevalent in Germany, with descendents of the original bearer having spread out across Europe and around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisEckbert: Where does the name Eckbert come from?
The last name Eckbert is primarily found in Germany and Austria. It is a German last name that often referred to someone who lived in a location or near a hilltop at or near the edge of a town, or in some cases someone who came from such a place. It can also be an occupational name for someone who lived near a river or a stream (bacher) or near the riverbank (eck).
The last name Eckbert may have been more common in the past than today. Currently, it is most prevalent in the German states of Bavaria, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Baden-Württemberg. It is also found in Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Sweden. It appears in the U.S. census from the 19th century, but is much rarer today.
In many parts of the world, the last name Eckbert is becoming rarer. However, it is still common enough in some areas that it can be found in public records, land deeds, real estate documents, and other estimated documents that chart its history. There is also evidence of people with the last name Eckbert migrating to Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It has shown up in some published genealogical records as well.
Variations of the surname Eckbert
The surname Eckbert has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin which are all derived from the Germanic male given name "Ekkebert". Some of these variants include: Eckardt, Ekardt, Echard, Eghert, Eckerd, Egherdt, Eckerdt, Eckhard, Eckhardt, Eckherd, Eckhird, Ekard, Ekhard, Ekhardr, Eckhert, Ekkehard, and Ekkehart.
In Germany, alternate spellings for this surname can be found as Eckard, Eckhardt, or Eghert. In the Netherlands, many families today still possess the name spelled as either Eckardt or Echard. A variation of Egherd is often heard in Austria and Switzerland. The spelling Ekardt can also be found amongst certain families today.
In some families, the gender of the original given name may have switched over time, transforming the suffix "-hardt" (meaning strong) to "hart" (also meaning strong). This is because during medieval times, names were sometimes given or even altered to a more gender-diverse form when the original form of the name was no longer appropriate to the gender of the person bearing the name. An example of this would be Eckhert and Ekkehart, which are both derivatives of the original name Ekkebert.
In the United States and United Kingdom, many immigrants brought their surnames with them, so there are often multiple spellings of the same name depending on where the family is geographically located. In some instances, the spelling of Eckbert has been incorporated into other surnames (i.e. Eckbert-Crowley, Eckbert-Thompson).
Overall, the surname Eckbert is quite versatile, with numerous spelling variations and surnames of the same origin that have been adapted to suit various regions and cultures.
Famous people with the name Eckbert
- Alfred Eckbert (1832-1909) was a German born New York sculptor.
- Fanny Eckbert (1852-1925) was a German-born American composer of light classical music.
- George Eckbert (1889-1966) was an American film actor in the silent era.
- Herbert Eckbert (1909-1972) was an American professional baseball player.
- Paul Eckbert (1896-1985) was a German expressionist painter and sculptor.
- Franz Eckbert (1737-1788) was an Austrian-born Jesuit missionary who spent almost four decades in Alaska.
- Gotthardt Eckbert (1535-1593) was a German physician and philosopher.
- Friedrich Eckbert (1815-1884) was a German botanist and plant pathologist.
- Matt Eckbert (born c.1970) is an American actor, best known for his role in the Nickelodeon series “Hey Dude”.
- Heinz Eckbert (born 1941) is a German-Canadian physicist and professor at the University of Toronto.
- Evelin Eckbert-Tchernia (1938-2011) was a French historian and expert in the history of Jews in North Africa.
- Roberth, Eckbert, Vivan, Annelie, Anna, Carlsten, and Winnie Eckbert (born c. 1940s) are eight siblings, offspring of Alfred Eckbert, who have had different careers in advertising and finance.