Surname Harbert - Meaning and Origin
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Harbert: What does the surname Harbert mean?
The last name Harbert is of English origin and believed to be derived from Germanic elements. The first element is hari, which means “army”, while the second element berht means “bright” or “famous”, making the overall name roughly translate to “army of bright or famous”.
This name first originated in England where it was likely used to denote those who had served with distinction in the army or otherwise achieved fame. As such, it was likely an occupational name related to military occupation.
The name Harbert has been known to appear as Harbert, Harburt, Harberd, Herbert, Herabert, Herbort, Harbart and even Herpert in the past.
The name Harbert has strong connections to royalty and nobility. Originally, the name was connected with the house of Anjou, being adopted by Geoffrey “Plantagenet”, the famous Count of Anjou.
Harbert is a unique and notable last name that has connections to renown and military might. Those who bear the name are reminded of its noble beginnings and prestigious position in history, and might take pride in its unique and remarkable history.
Order DNA origin analysisHarbert: Where does the name Harbert come from?
The last name Harbert is commonly found in the United States today, particularly in the southern region. It is especially popular in Alabama, where there are an estimated 6,000 people with the Harbert surname. It's also known to be common in states such as Texas, Georgia, and Tennessee. It’s an English surname and likely derived from the Old German personal name “Heriberto,” which means “bright army.”
Harbert is a rather uncommon surname and is ranked as the 8,224th most frequent name. Several well-known individuals with this last name include John Harbert III, a prominent American businessman; Brandon Harbert, a professional poker player and model from Dallas, Texas; and Marcelle Harbert, an actress who appeared in many television and film roles.
In terms of genealogical records, some of the oldest records of Harbert can be traced back to 16th century England, particularly to the area of Wiston, Sussex. Today, England still has a few Harberts, though most have emigrated to other countries. The most common contemporary occurrence of the surname is in the United States.
Variations of the surname Harbert
The surname Harbert has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of the surname Harbert include Harbort, Harbert, Harbord, Harbirt, Harburt, and Herbort. It is also occasionally encountered in records as Harbough, Harbo, Harboe, and Harbuhr.
Harbert is believed to be a derivative of the Old German personal name Heribert, which is itself derived from the elements heri (army) and berht (bright area). Thus, it translates roughly to mean "army of the bright area."
The Harbert surname is found throughout Europe, especially in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it is most concentrated in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Variations of the surname are also encountered throughout the United States in all the other states.
Spelling variants of the Harbert surname, which is sometimes found in records include the following: Harbr't, or Harbart; Herbort; Harbort; Harbert; Harbord; Harbuhr; and Harbo.
Variations of the Harbert surname which have been recorded include Harburt, Harbritt, Harboot, Harbough, Harbotimus, and Herbote. Other variations which have been recorded include Herberte, Herberts, Herbies, and Herbette.
The Harbert surname is also represented by several different surnames of different origins. Examples of these surnames include Herbert, Herbertson, Harbird, Herbster, Harbeck, and Harbutt.
Famous people with the name Harbert
- Dan Harbert: former president of the National Association of Broadcasters
- Lindell Harbert: American professional golfer
- George E. Harbert: mayor of Orlando, Florida from 1899 to 1901
- Rocky Harbert: lead guitarist for the band NEEDTOBREATHE
- Kennedy Harbert: professional squash player
- Stu Harbert: film editor nominated for an Academy Award for editing the 2002 film “Adaptation”
- Tennell Harbert: American bobsled driver
- Brandon Harbert: actor most known for his role in the television series Cold Case
- Carole Harbert: American actor and producer
- Alan S. Harbert: aviator and member of the Canadian Aviation Airlines
- Jack Harbert: American professional wrestler
- Judson Harbert: president and CEO of FirstGroup plc