Surname Folbrecht - Meaning and Origin
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Folbrecht: What does the surname Folbrecht mean?
The last name Folbrecht is an occupational surname, derived from the Old German words "folga" and "brecht," as well as the Low German "folgher". It translates into English as “thresher” or “one who threshes grain”.
In medieval times, threshing was a very labor-intensive occupation usually done by hand, and its practitioners sometimes assumed the surname of their trade as a way of setting themselves apart from others in the same village. This was especially true during the time of the slow spread of literacy, when there was a need to distinguish individuals by name.
The German genealogy records link the early folks with the Folbrecht name to the northeastern regions of Germany, in Bavaria and Pomerania, as well as the Czech provinces of Silesia and Bohemia.
Folbrecht is a very uncommon name today, but many people with this surname are still found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and even the U.S. and Canada. A connection to those who adopted the surname in the 19th century can often be drawn via their countries of emigration and their professions.
Overall, the surname Folbrecht is associated with a hard-working personality who hailed from the rural agrarian industry of the past. It reflects the dedication to their work and a commitment to their families that lies at the heart of many German families. A commonality of values among those who share this surname is often found, making Folbrecht an important part of various Germanic cultures.
Order DNA origin analysisFolbrecht: Where does the name Folbrecht come from?
The last name Folbrecht is most commonly found in Germany today. It originated in what is now North Rhine-Westphalia, near Cologne. The earliest known recorded use of this surname is from 1404 in this region. Today, Folbrecht is still a relatively rare name, but can be found in North Rhine-Westphalia and surrounding states. It also appears in scattered occurrences in Bavaria, Saxony, Hesse and Lower Saxony. In some cases, Folbrechts have migrated beyond Germany, particularly to the United States, Canada and other parts of Europe.
The meaning of the name Folbrecht is “free farmer” and is thought to have derived from a combination of fol, meaning ‘free’, and brecht, meaning ‘plowed land’. It is believed that at the time that the name was first coined, the person who chose the name was in possession of a small plot of free land that he could farm, and that name was chosen to commemorate this.
Folbrechts today are most likely descended from those who remained in Germany, and though the name is still fairly rare, it is not uncommon to meet someone with the last name Folbrecht in Germany and other countries where there has been migration from the area.
Variations of the surname Folbrecht
The surname Folbrecht has various spellings and variants in addition to other surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of Folbrecht is Folbrect and Folbrech. Other variants include Folbrekht, Folbrecht, Folbrecth, Folbregt, Foulbrecht, Foulbrect, and Folebrecht.
The surname Folbrecht originated from German or Dutch occupation names for a farmer who held his land as a fief from a feudal lord. This name is derived from the old German 'folbrecht' or 'vollbrecht' which means 'full power'.
There are several other related surnames of Folbrecht. German-based surnames such as Fulbrecht, Follbrecht, Folbrecht, Falkbrecht, and Valbrecht have a common root. Other related surnames include Volbrecht, Polbrecht, Faulbrecht, Bolbrecht, Wulbrecht, and Hohlbrecht; all of which are similar to the Folbrecht surname but have slight variations.
In the United States, the surname Folbrecht can also be found in forms of Forebrecht, Forebrect, Volbrecht, Follbrecht, Folbrech, Folbreke, Folbrek, and Folebrect.
Variations in spellings of names were, historically speaking, common before the use of standardized spelling. Even today, individuals may choose to spell their name differently than what is standard. With the varied spellings and variants of the surname Folbrecht, anyone researching the surname may need to do a thorough search to avoid overlooking anything.
Famous people with the name Folbrecht
- Stacy Folbrecht: Former professional basketball player.
- Kenneth Folbrecht: American journalist and author.
- Cleo Folbrecht: German-Australian actress and singer-songwriter.
- Reinhard Folbrecht: German business executive.
- Paul Folbrecht: Bavarian politician.
- Joe Folbrecht: American author and journalist.
- Ann Folbrecht: American attorney.
- Alan Folbrecht: Executive Director of the American Bar Foundation.
- Ryan Folbrecht: American filmmaker and writer.
- Karl Folbrecht: Senior advisor in the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.