Surname Giliberto - Meaning and Origin

Giliberto: What does the surname Giliberto mean?

The last name Giliberto is a patronymic surname of Italian origins which means "son of Gilbert". It is believed to be a variant of the French surname "Gillet", which in turn is derived from the given name "Gillibert", which originated in Germany.

The given name "Gillibert" is of Germanic origins, consisting of the elements "gisil", meaning "pledge" and "berht", meaning "bright". This indicated someone who was noble and dependable. Over time, the name spread into French and Italian cultures and eventually became the retaining the last name Giliberto today.

The surname Giliberto is commonly found throughout Italy as well as in countries in South America which were settled by Italian immigrants. It is also sometimes found in the Dutch Caribbean due to the colonial trading ties of that region with Italy.

Although the exact origin and spread of the surname Giliberto is unknown, the name has become quite a common one in many parts of the world, and has passed down from generation to generation for centuries. It is a symbol of pride and tradition and is a reminder of the historical and cultural ties between the different parts of the world.

Giliberto: Where does the name Giliberto come from?

The Giliberto surname is most commonly found today in Italy, particularly in the regions of Lazio, Puglia, and Lombardy. Although not an especially common surname, it occurs throughout the country with some particularity in the northern Italian provinces and in the major cities like Rome.

Overseas, the Giliberto surname is found in Spain, Latin America, Canada, and the United States. According to the 2019 US Census, a total of 5,310 people in the United States have the last name Giliberto. The most frequent regions in which they are found are California, Florida, and Texas.

Mexico, which is particularly influenced by Spain, has an even higher population with the Giliberto surname, reaching 29,369 people, most of whom live in the states of Guanajuato, Michoacan, and México.

In Canada, in addition to being found in Italian and Spanish origins, it is believed that some settlers trace their descent from the Giliberto family of Spanish-Portuguese origin which migrated to the North American country after World War II.

Regardless of its origin, it is clear that the Giliberto surname is well distributed throughout the world, although most of its bearers can be traced back to Europe and the Mediterranean.

Variations of the surname Giliberto

Variants of the surname Giliberto include Gilberto, Gilvert, Gilburt, Gilbirt, and Gilbert.

Common spellings of the surname Giliberto include Gilibert, Giliberte, Gilbert, Gilberte, Gilberto, Gilberti, Gilvert, and Gilbirt.

Surnames of the same origin to Giliberto are Gilbertez, Gillbert, Gilbertson, Gilberts, Gilburt, Gilmore, Kilbert, Kilbury, and Kettleburt.

The surname Giliberto has its origin within medieval Europe and descended from a popular Germanic name, Gilbert, meaning ‘pledge bright’. During this period in history, the Norman conquest of England in 1066 saw the spread of the surname across the English, French, and German speaking worlds. By the thirteenth century, the name began to be localized and Anglicized via Scotland and the UK. In time, this surname also spread to other regions, including Italy, Spain, and Portugal.

As the surname Giliberto spread, many variants and spellings began to arise, especially in areas where language and alphabet developed differently. In particular, the variants 'Gilberti' and 'Gilberte' are common in Italian speaking countries, while in Portugal the usually seen variant is 'Gilberto'. Similarly, in French speaking countries the affix of '-te' often appears, as in 'Gilberte'.

In England and the United States, many early immigrants with the surname Giliberto Americanized their names by taking on other related surnames, such as Gilburt, Gilbirt, or Gilvert. And in the UK, the surname Gilbertson emerged as the primary variant.

Overall, the surname Giliberto is very versatile and has many regional variants and spellings. However, no matter what variant is employed, it generally carries the same meaning of ‘pledge bright’.

Famous people with the name Giliberto

• Angelo Giliberto, Italian satirical poet and playwright
• Salvatore Giliberto, American film writer and director
• Joseph Giliberto, American politician
• Walter Giliberto, Argentinian footballer
• William Giliberto, Italian-American artist
• Josephine Giliberto, Italian singer
• Charles Giliberto, American musician
• Michael Giliberto, Italian singer
• Eugene Giliberto, American ice hockey player
• Giulia Giliberto, Italian actress and voice artist.

Other surnames

Giliberti