Surname Thiebault - Meaning and Origin

Thiebault: What does the surname Thiebault mean?

The last name Thiebault is a French surname originating from the Medieval period. Its root is derived from the Old French personal name Thibauld which is derived from the Germanic root ‘theud’ meaning ‘people or nation’ and ‘bald’ meaning ‘brave or bold’. It is derived from an old Germanic personal name which is of unknown origin.

The surname Thiebault is mainly found in France, but is also present in other parts of the world, especially among French-speaking countries such as Canada and the United States. The name has several variants, including Thibault, Tebault, Thibaut, Thibeault, and Thieboeuf. All of these surnames share the same root and meaning.

Thiebault is an occupational surname, referring to a blacksmith. It was first used as an occupational name by someone who made tools such as daggers, scythes, or horseshoes. The surname could also refer to a person who was in the military, as the word ‘Thiebault’ is derived from the Latin ‘miles’, which means ‘soldier’.

The name Thiebault is associated with fortitude, strength, courage and resilience. It is also associated with loyalty, honor, and commitment. The name implies that the person who carries it will strive to do the best and not be scared to take the lead.

Thiebault: Where does the name Thiebault come from?

The origins of the last name Thiebault are uncertain, but some research points to the Aquitaine region in southwestern France as its birthplace. Today, the name is most commonly found in France, specifically in the Haute-Normandie region of western Normandy. It is also prevalent in Belgium and Quebec, Canada, both of which were once French colonies.

In France, there are high concentrations of individuals carrying the Thiebault name in several departments, notably in Loire-Atlantique, Vendée, and Mayenne. In Belgium, Thiebaut is more common, and is far more concentrated in the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia.

In the United States, many Thiebaults emigrated during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, primarily from Belgium and France. Most settled in New England, especially Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. It is also found in Louisiana due to the French-Creole culture in the area.

More recently, the Thiebault name can be found in Australia, especially in the cities of Melbourne and Sydney. There is also a large presence in South Africa, particularly in the city of Johannesburg. Overall, it is fair to say that the Thiebault name is most commonly found in France and the Francophone world, and that it also has a moderate presence in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Thiebault

The surname Thiebault is a French and Belgian surname derived from the name Thiebaut, originally derived from the Germanic personal name Theobald. Variations of the surname include Thibault, Thibaut, Thibeault, Thibeaut, Thibodaux, and Tibodeau.

In France, Thiebaut is an extremely popular masculine name; whereas in the United States however, it is much less prevalent, and is most commonly used as a surname. As French emigrants moved to other countries, the spelling of the surname began to vary by country, by dialect, and by region. The French spelling Thibaut or Thiebaud, is found most commonly in France, while Thiebault is much more prevalent in Quebec and Louisiana.

In English speaking countries outside of Canada, the spelling of Thiebault generally changes from Thiebault to Thibodeau, which is an anglicized version of the French name. As emigrants moved from France to Britain and other Commonwealth Countries, this often lead to even more variations of the name, such as Tebbutt, Tebbutt, Tibbit, and Tibbits.

The French prefix and suffix combination of –eau, or –eault, meaning ‘of’ or ‘belonging to’, is incredibly common in French surnames, and as such, Thiebault has many other possible variants, such as Thibeau, Thibeault and Thibodaux. Theobald is very common in German-speaking countries, and as such, variants common to Germany might include Deiba, Diebald, and Diebold.

Overall, like many surnames that derive from a single original source, the surname Thiebault has a very diverse array of variants and spellings. These range from anglicised forms, such as Thibodeau, to more traditional forms such as Diebold, showing the movements of peoples throughout the world.

Famous people with the name Thiebault

• Jean Thiébault (18th-century French admiral)
• Victor Thiébault (French philosopher and theologian)
• Jules Thiébault (French playwright and poet)
• Cédric Thiébault (French footballer)
• Martin Thiébault (French playwright and poet)
• Louis Thiébault (18th-century French architect/designer)
• Paul Thiébault (French lawyer and revolutionary)
• Henry Thiébault (French creole doctor and poet)
• Pierre-Marie Thiébault (French pioneer of Algerian aviation)
• Jacques Thiébault (French politician)
• Alexandre Thiébault (French admiral in the Napoleonic Wars)
• Ange Thiébault (18th-century French sculptor)
• Gilbert Thiébault (French painter and illustrator)
• Charles Thiébault (19th-century French military general)
• Maud Thiébault (French textile designer and lecturer)
• Jean Thiébault (17th century French painter and engraver)
• Marie Thiébault (French painter and philanthropist)
• Marc Thiébault ( French sculptor/medallist and art educator)
• Antoine Thiébault (19th-century French painter)
• Elise Thiébault (French theatre and opera director)

Other surnames

ThiebaudThiebautThiebaux