Surname Wibbelt - Meaning and Origin
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Wibbelt: What does the surname Wibbelt mean?
The last name Wibbelt is an occupational surname that originated in Germany. It is thought to have derived from an old German word “Wippel”, which essentially means “weaver”. As such, Wibbelt was likely used to denote a person who made a living as a weaver of textiles.
The surname first appeared in records in the 15th century in what is now western Germany, suggesting that it was chosen to differentiate individuals from a wider population who had gained their livelihood from crafts related to weaving, including carding, spinning, and other related forms of fabric production.
In the early years, Wibbelt families moved around often, given the need to find work in different towns and villages. By the 1800’s, families with this last name were established in numerous parts of Germany and had spread to some parts of the United States and Canada, likely brought to the New World by 19th century immigrants escaping a period of unrest and poverty in the European countryside.
The Wibbelt family today is relatively small and fairly well-distributed around the world. This is likely due to the economic success experienced by some of its members that allowed them to pursue other opportunities beyond textiles, such as teaching, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, still today, the name is a reminder of its humble origins as a descriptor of crafts and trade associated with weaving.
Order DNA origin analysisWibbelt: Where does the name Wibbelt come from?
The last name Wibbelt is most commonly found today in Germany. The surname Wibbelt is derived from the Low German word Wipbelt, which means "distant forest" and is believed to be an indication of the family's ancestral origin. The Wibbelt name is most commonly found in northern Germany, particularly in Lower Saxony, in the cities of Bremen, Oldenburg and Hamburg.
The Wibbelt family has reported early presence in the Eupen region in the Kingdom of Prussia. Today, descendents of the Wibbelt family are spread across the globe, with notable concentrations in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and throughout Europe.
In Germany, the Wibbelt name is often associated with its northern origins. The Wibbelt family can trace its history back to the early 15th century in the rural counties of Bentheim, Emsland, and Oldenburg. The family was initially known by its patronymic Wibbelde, eventually shortened to Wibbelt. During this period, the surname became increasingly popular and was spread throughout Germany, especially to the cities of Oldenburg, Bremen, and Hamburg.
Today, the Wibbelt name is most commonly found in northern Germany and in the United States, where it ranks among the 100 most common surnames in the country. Its prevalence is highest in the states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Variations of the surname Wibbelt
The surname Wibbelt is of German origin and is derived from the German personal name Wiggobald, with the Old High German element wiga denoting combat and bald meaning bold or brave. Variations of this surname are Webel, Weberle, Weble, Wibel, Wiebel, Wibel and Wiebel.
Due to its association with war and combat, some variants of the Wibbelt surname have been Anglicized as Warble, Warblet, Warburton or Webster. Additional surnames derived from Wibbelt include Vöbel, Vibbert, Vibbels, Wiebles, Wybles, Wyblet, Wimble, Woole, Wool, Wooll, Woole or Wellblet.
Variations of the surname can also be seen outside of Germany, including Wakebelts found in England and Wiblets found in France. In the Netherlands variants of the name include Wabbel, Wobbe, Wouwe, and Wuibbel. In Sweden the spelling Wibblet is used.
In some cases, Wibbelt has been converted into multiple forms, leading to Wiebel, Wond, Wonne, Wunne, Waibel, Wabele, Wuib and Wibbelaar. The variants Woolf, Volks and Ubisal are also sometimes traced back to the original Wibbelt.
Famous people with the name Wibbelt
- Heinrich Wibbelt (1890-1975): Heinrich was a German businessman and amateur astronomer known for his work in the field of astrophotography.
- Jessica Wibbelt (born 1990): Jessica is a field hockey player from Germany, who is a member of the National Women's Field Hockey Team since 2011.
- Inez Wibbelt (1896-1985): Inez was a German artist and graphic designer. She was a leader in the East German women's art movement in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Holger Wibbelt (born 1954): Holger is a German historian, author, journalist, and professor of history at the University of Mainz.
- Jakob Wibbelt (born 1994): Jakob is a German footballer who currently plays for MSV Duisburg in the 2. Bundesliga.
- Shanda Wibbelt (born 1985): Shanda is a former pool, beach, and indoor volleyball player from the Netherlands. She was a two-time Olympic bronze medalist in beach volleyball.
- Adriaan Wibbelt (1960-2002): Adriaan was a Dutch entomologist and amateur herpetologist. He was the founder of the Dutch Herpetological Society.