Surname Sebald - Meaning and Origin

Sebald: What does the surname Sebald mean?

The last name Sebald is an old German nickname that dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries and is derived from an Old High German personal name, Sebalt. The personal name was likely an adaptation of the Latin name, Sebaldus, which was derived from the Germanic elements "sae," meaning sea, and "bald," meaning brave.

The name Sebald is thought to indicate someone strong and courageous, a characteristic that was likely displayed by people with the last name during the Middle Ages. People with the name Sebald were likely seen as brave and independent, as well as people who could rely on their own abilities and instincts.

The name Sebald may also be associated with water or wind. Sebaldus was an Old High German God of wind, and the name Sebald was often used to refer to a powerful seafarer or sailor.

Today, the name Sebald is still present, namely in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is still seen as a strong, resilient, and independent name, and someone with the last name Sebald is likely to be seen as trustworthy and reliable.

Sebald: Where does the name Sebald come from?

The last name Sebald is most common in Germany today. According to Geneanet, in 2019 there were 20,189 people bearing the last name Sebald in Germany. This is a major decrease compared to 1940 when there were 26,431 people with this last name in Germany. Due to WW2, many Sebalds had to emigrate. Between 1940 and 2019, the number of people with the last name Sebald decreased by 6,242.

Today, it is a popular last name in Germany and is quite frequently encountered. It can be found in various German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. Additionally, it can be found in other parts of Europe (like Belgium, Sweden, and Denmark) and in some countries of the former Soviet Union like Latvia and Lithuania. It might also be found in the United States as some Sebalds have emigrated in the past.

Overall, the last name Sebald is most common in Germany today, but it can also be encountered in other parts of Europe and even in the United States.

Variations of the surname Sebald

The surname Sebald has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant spelling is Sebold. Other potential variations include Seebold, Siebold, Siebald, Zebold, Zeboldt, Siebald, Seybold, Seebald, Sieboldt, Siebold, Sevald, Seybald and Zibold.

Sebald is derived from the Germanic personal name Sebald, which comprises the elements “sev-“(seb-) meaning “victory, bliss” and “-bald” meaning “bold”, “strong” or “brave”. This combination was popular among the Germanic-speaking peoples of Europe, and the Sebald name began to appear in records from Germany and other regions as early as the 11th century.

Another origin for the Sebald name lies in the Dutch city of Zevenbergen, which dates to at least the 13th century. People originating from this area may have taken on the name Sebald, which is a combination of the Latin “septem” (seven) and “bergen” (mountains).

Sebald can also be a Jewish surname of Ashkenazi origins. In this case, it is believed to have developed from the Hebrew first name “Shebuel”, which means “God is my chief”.

In other cases, Sebald may have originated as a nickname for someone strong, bold or brave.

Variants of the name Sebald have been found in countries all over the world, including Germany, France, Netherlands, Poland, England, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and the United States.

No matter the origin, the surname Sebald (or any of its spellings or variants) is associated with strength, courage and victory.

Famous people with the name Sebald

• W.G. Sebald, German academic, poet, and author
• Andrew Sebald, American real estate entrepreneur
• Thaddeus Sebald, American educator and philantropist
• Jos Arnold Sebald, West German diplomat and politician
• Michael Sebald, German writer, art historian, photographer, and curator
• Siegfried Sebald, German footballer
• Johann Sebald, German composer
• Ferdinand Sebald, German mathematician
• Max Sebald, German photographer 10.Pat Sebald, American player-manager in baseball 11.Florian Sebald, German contemporary artist 12.Klemens Sebald, Catholic priest, minister and philosopher 13.Walter Sebald, American aeronautical scientist and professor 14.Arnold Sebald, Bavarian secretary of state for public education 15.Helmut Sebald, German composer 16.Dann Sebald, American football coach 17.Steffen Sebald, German politician and Member of Parliament 18.Tom Sebald, Canadian politician 19.Jürgen Sebald, German professor and linguist 20.Edward C. Sebald, American acting administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Other surnames

Sebaldt