Surname Wibbold - Meaning and Origin
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Wibbold: What does the surname Wibbold mean?
The last name Wibbold is an uncommon one that is found primarily in the United States, primarily in the Midwestern states. It is thought to be of German origin, and records of the name date to the early 1500s.
The name has two potential meanings. The first one is that it could be derived from the German word wible, which means “victor” or “the brave”. The other possibility is that it is a blended form of two German names, Wilhelm and Godbold, meaning “desire of God”.
The most common Wibbolds to have resided in the United States were the descendants of Hans Wibboltsen and his wife, Anna, who immigrated to the colonies from Germany in the mid-1800s. They settled in Illinois, with other Wibbolds living primarily in Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan.
Today, Wibbold is still a rare surname, but it is gaining in popularity due to the fact that those who bear it have managed to keep a close-knit network, enabling members to keep in touch through the internet. Many Wibbolds have also joined family associations to ensure that their shared history is never forgotten.
Order DNA origin analysisWibbold: Where does the name Wibbold come from?
The last name Wibbold is relatively uncommon in the modern world. Although the origin of the name is unknown, a large concentration of people bearing it can be found in Germany. In the early 1900s, the surname was found with much higher frequency in Prussia, where many families settled in the Silesia region. Today, the pattern of the surname’s distribution has shifted somewhat. Regions with a high concentration of Wibbold families now include western and northern Germany, particularly in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Lower Saxony. Smaller populations of Wibbolds can also be found in other countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom and Poland.
Occupational records from 1700s Prussia point to the fact that the Wibbold family members were predominantly businessmen—and more likely than not, these were merchants and traders in the agricultural industry. Later, however, many Wibbolds found work in other industries, such as tertiary education and healthcare.
Within Germany, the surnames Wibbold and Wiebold appear to be borne by related families, as suggested by Meyer’s Konversationslexikon, a German-language encyclopaedia published in the late 1800s. However, outside Germany, it is likely that both surnames appear independently of one another. As such, it is not unusual for families with the same surname to be unrelated.
Variations of the surname Wibbold
The surname Wibbold is a patronymic surname which is derived from the baptismal name Wilbald or Wilbold. It is derived from the Old German personal name Wilbald, which is composed of two elements, “wil” meaning “will” or “desire” and “balt” meaning “bold”. It has become widespread in the English-speaking world due to its being a popular name among the Normans. Variations in the spelling of the surname include Wibbald, Wibolth, Wibold, Webbold, Wilbold and Wilbald. Surnames, or variants, of the same origin are Wible, Wibble, Wiblin and Wybauld.
The earliest occurrences of the surname date as far back as the 17th century when it can be found listed in church records in the northern counties of England and in Scotland. For example, the marriage of Margaret Wibold and Robert Robertson at St. Andrew’s Church in Edinburgh, Scotland was recorded in 1617. It is also of note that the baptism of a Robert Wilbald was also recorded in March of 1620 in Lincolnshire, England.
Among the early settlers to the United States bearing the surname Wibbold were Joseph William and Mary Wibbold who landed in Pennsylvania in 1742. Likewise, Mathew Wibbold from Swettenham, England arrived in the United States in 1819.
Today there is still a small but strong presence of the surname throughout the US, with the highest concentrations being found in Pennsylvania, New York, and Michigan.
In closing, it’s important to note that although many variations of the surname Wibbold exist, as well as many other surnames of similar origin, the family behind each one share a common Germanic heritage and have enjoyed a long history of settlement in the English-speaking world.
Famous people with the name Wibbold
- Chris Wibbold: is a professional Beach Volleyball player and coach
- Laura Wibbold: is an American theology professor at Duke University
- Norman Wibbild: is a Dutch composer and pianist
- Steve Wibbold: is a composer and songwriter
- Claire Wibbold: is a British fashion designer and creator of Claire Wibbold London
- Stephen Wibbold: is an English author, music producer and composer
- Peter Wibbels: is a German music producer and songwriter
- Friedhelm Wibbels: is a German professor of clinical psychology
- Maximilian Wibbels: is a German soccer player and goalkeeper
- Mathias Wibbel: is a French film director, screenwriter and producer