Surname Surber - Meaning and Origin

Surber: What does the surname Surber mean?

The surname Surber is of Germanic origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "surbær”, meaning “winegrower” or "vintner". The name was likely originally an occupational surname for individuals who cultivated vineyards or made wine. Over time, occupational surnames became hereditary, passing down from generation to generation, and thus losing their original job-related meanings. Therefore, while the surname Surber suggests an ancestral connection to vineyard work, modern bearers of the name may not necessarily have any direct connection to wine making. As with many surnames that have been in use for centuries, different branches of the Surber family may also have different meanings or origins attached to the name.

Surber: Where does the name Surber come from?

The last name Surber is most commonly found in the United States. In the United States, the surname Surber is found primarily in the Appalachian region of the Southeast, and is most prominent in states like West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. Other pockets of Surber families can be found in states like Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Virginia. According to the 2020 United States Census, there were 3,242 people with the last name Surber in the country.

The family history of Surbers goes back to the 1600s in Germany when they migrated from what is now known as Switzerland to the Germanic Palatinate, which is now part of southern Germany. The Surber surname was then brought to the United States by German immigrants during the nineteenth century, primarily settling in the Southeast, particularly in the Appalachian region. As a result, the last name Surber was predominant in states such as West Virginia and Kentucky.

Today, most Surber families remain in the United States, though there are some in other countries as well. You may come across people with the last name Surber in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Surber families have also been found in the Netherlands and Indonesia.

Variations of the surname Surber

The surname Surber is of German origin, and the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin are as follows:

Surber: This is the original spelling of the surname, and is found mainly in the German-speaking regions in Europe such as Germany and Austria.

Surbaugh: This is an Americanized version of the surname Surber, and is the most commonly found variant in the US.

Surbough: This spelling variant is also commonly found in the US.

Syburt/Syburts: This is another variant of the surname found mainly in the US.

Sybert/Syberts: This is another popular spelling of the surname found in the US.

Zurber: This is a German variant of the surname Surber.

Syber/Sybers: This is a rare variant of the Surber surname, but it is found primarily in the US.

Surbur/Surburs: This is another variant of the name found in the US.

Surbart/Surberts: This is a rare variation of the surname found mainly in the United States.

Souber/Soubers: This is a Dutch- and Belgian-derived spelling of the surname.

Soubert/Souberts: This is a slightly rarer variation of the surname.

Surbrook/Surbrooks: This is an English-derived spelling of the surname.

Overall, the various spellings and surnames of the same origin for the name Surber are primarily derived from either German, English, Dutch, or Belgian origins. The most commonly-found variants are Surbaugh, Syburt, Sybert, and Syburts.

Famous people with the name Surber

• Adrian Surber, American musician
• Allen Surber, American actor
• Avery Surber, American writer and illustrator
• Ben Surber, American Olympic bobsledder
• Bont Surber, American Instagram celebrity
• Cindy Surber, American businesswoman
• Dan Surber, American baseball player
• David Surber, American record producer and engineer
• Jack Surber, American minister
• Jeff Surber, American former NASCAR driver
• Leslie Surber, American voice actress
• Linda J. Surber, American political science professor
• Luther Surber, American college baseball coach
• Michael Surber, American sprinter
• Paul Surber, American professor of entomology and wildlife ecology
• Ronald Surber, American academic and past president of Iowa State University
• Sam Surber, American professional soccer player
• Steve Surber, American former minor league baseball player
• Timothy Surber, American politician and member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
• Troy Surber, American strength and conditioning coach

Other surnames

SurbeckSurbek