Surname Näbert - Meaning and Origin

Näbert: What does the surname Näbert mean?

Näbert (Naebert) is a German surname likely derived from the Middle High German expression "nabert" meaning "wise counsel". In Germany, the last name is mainly found in southern Germany and in Austria. It may have begun as a first name and become a surname during the Middle Ages when most families began to adopt hereditary surnames.

In some parts of Germany, the last name Näbert is a variant of the surnames Neibert, Neiffert, and Neifert and can be found in some records as Nairt, Narb, and Nebert. The German spelling for this surname is often abbreviated to Näb.

In her book on German surnames, author Gottfried Kress states that the most common spelling of this name before the 1800's was Nebert or Nabert, and names ending in ‘-bert’ were very common at this time. According to Kress, this last name is probably derived from personal names ending in -bert, which were a common way to mark someone's ancestry.

Näbert may also be a patronymic form of Naber, which is a pet form of the personal name Bernhard, which comes from the Germanic element “beraht”, meaning "bright, famous".

Therefore, it seems likely that the surname Näbert originated from a personal name and is likely derived from the words "wise counsel". Today, it is most commonly found in southern Germany and Austria.

Näbert: Where does the name Näbert come from?

Näbert is a German name, and today it is most common in parts of Germany like Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt. Additionally, Europe is home to a sizable diaspora of people with Germanic ancestry, and many of their descendants bear the Näbert surname in their contemporary families. This includes other parts of Europe such as Sweden, Austria, Poland, Denmark, and northern Italy. In the United States, the Näbert surname can be found primarily among individuals of German descent. According to the US Social Security Administration, the name was most prevalent in Pennsylvania in 1880. Because of the waves of immigration from Europe in the 19th century, large populations of German origin can be found in many of the larger US cities, including Philadelphia, Detroit, and Chicago, where the Näbert surname may likely be present today. It is also likely to appear in the states and territories where larger concentrations of German-Americans reside, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas, and South Dakota.

In addition, over the past couple of centuries, certain German-speaking families have adopted the Näbert name after settling in other countries such as Canada and Australia. Consequently, the Näbert surname is likely present in those countries too, particularly on the west coast, as a large number of German-Canadians settled in British Columbia during the late 1800s.

Variations of the surname Näbert

The surname Näbert has a German origin and is predominately found in Germany and other nearby countries. Variations, alternative spellings and surnames of the same origin as Näbert include but are not limited to Nabert, Naabert, Naebart, Naebert, Naebhart, Naibert, Nabbert and Naibel.

Näbert is a German surname that originates from the German first name Nebel, which means “mist”. The surname was likely given to those who were born or lived near mist or fog. It could also be derived from a place-name containing the element Nebel, such as Nebelsberg or Nebelsbach (“fog hill” or “fog stream”). Additionally, the name could have been derived from the personal name of Nebel, derived from the Germanic word for “cloud”. It could also have been given to people who collected or sold foggy items, such as wool or fur, or to those who sold foggy spirits.

Näbert is also related to the Middle High German name Nebeler, which was borne by bankers in medieval times. Nebeler was also adopted as a surname, such as in the case of Lienherr from Bavaria in the 13th century. Additionally, the spelling variations of Naber, Naabert, and Naebert can be found in areas affected by the German diaspora, such as the US, Canada, and Argentina.

Although the spelling of the surname Näbert has changed over the years, the ultimate origin of the name remains the same. The surname is mostly found today in Germany, although its variations can be found in other countries as well.

Famous people with the name Näbert

• Thorsten Näbert: Thorsten Näbert is a German professional ice hockey goaltender. He has been playing for the Krefeld Pinguine in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga since 2013.
• Christian Näbert: Christian Näbert is a German trumpeter, professor and conductor. He currently heads the Orchestral Academy of the Bayerische Staatsorchester and teaches trumpet at the Hochschule für Musik "Hanns Eisler".
• Paul Näbert: Paul Näbert was a German football coach who managed teams in the Oberliga Nord from 1947-1972. He led Hannover 96 to promotion from the regional top division in 1957/58.
• Hans Näbert: Hans Näbert was a German World War I flying ace credited with ten aerial victories. He was also one of the founding members of the Famous Fighting Squadron, Jasta 11. 5.Werner Näbert: Werner Näbert is a former German footballer. He is best known for his time as a centre-forward with FC Bayern Munich, during the 1980s and early 1990s, winning the Bundesliga title in 1990.
• Jan Näbert: Jan Näbert is a Swedish composer and film musician who began his career in the early 90s. He has scored for numerous films including I am Julia, Brotherhood and A Lonely Place to Die.
• Otto Näbert: Otto Näbert was a German neo-humanist philosopher whose most famous philosophical works, 'The New Knowledge of Man', sought to redefine the limits of human thought and perception.
• Christian Näbert: Christian Näbert was a German painter, sculptor, and designer. He is best known for his large public commissions, including the interior of the Church of Peace, and the Karl-Marx-Allee walkway.

Other surnames

NaberNabereitNabers