Surname Willbert - Meaning and Origin

Willbert: What does the surname Willbert mean?

The last name Willbert is a French or German surname originally deriving from the personal name 'Willbert'. The name is composed of two distinct elements, 'Will' and 'Bert', both of which are of Germanic origin and mean 'desire' and 'bright'.

The surname first appeared in written records in the late 13th century in Germany. During this period many Germanic personal names were assimilated into surname formation as a means of identifying a particular family or individual.

The most likely meaning of the surname 'Willbert' is 'bright desire', however further study of its historical usage has revealed other possible meanings. In the Middle Ages, when personal names often had allegorical and moralistic meaning, the combination of 'Will' and 'Bert' could have also connected to the concepts of steadfastness and courage, or to the concepts of willpower and strength.

Today, the surname Willbert is spread across Europe, with Germany and France being the most common locations. It is most often associated with individuals of the faith and highly educated backgrounds, suggesting a long established line of descent. The surname is also found in the Americas where it is associated with those of German or French descent. In the United States, the surname is most common in the states of California, Texas, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Willbert: Where does the name Willbert come from?

The last name Willbert is mostly found in countries of Germanic origin, such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also common in North America, particularly in the United States and Canada.

In the United States, the first settlers with the surname Willbert were found in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Arizona. In Canada, it is most commonly found in Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.

As of 2020, the most populous country with the surname Willbert is Germany, with an estimate of 1,100 people bearing that name. The majority of them are concentrated in the central and northern parts of the country. In Austria, the surname is still quite popular, with an estimation of 900 people with that last name living there.

In North America, the surname Willbert has been gaining more and more popularity over the years. It is estimated that at least 2,800 people in the United States, and 600 people in Canada, bear this family name. Many of them have family roots that trace back to the original German immigrants who arrived in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The surname Willbert is becoming increasingly rare across the globe, but is still quite popular in areas of its origin. It is likely that this surname will be around for generations to come.

Variations of the surname Willbert

Willbert is a surname of Germanic origin, derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Willebereht, which consists of the elements wil (desire) and berht (bright). Variations of the name include Wilburt, Wilburth, Wilbery, Willbery, Wilbury, Wilbry, Wilbar and Wilbars. Spellings of the name have also evolved over time, becoming Wilbrette, Willberd, Wilbard, Wilbarth, Wilbaird, Wilbort and Wilbord.

The surname Willbert has a number of variants in other languages. In Scandinavia, it is Willebord; the Dutch variant is Willebrecht; Scandinavian and Dutch variations also include Wilbert; the Greek form is Γουλλβερουτ (Goulberout), and its French counterpart is Willebord.

Some other variants of the name include Wilbrette, Wilberty, Wilberta, Wilbur, Wilburton, Wilborn, and Wilbourn.

In Scotland, the surname often appears as Wylbirt or Wilbert. In Wales, it is Gwillym. In Ireland, there are two variations: Wilbert and Wilburt.

Willbert is most commonly associated with Germany, but it is also found in France, Hungary, Poland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The surname is occasionally changed to its Polish variant Willborek.

People with the surname Willbert have also migrated to the United States, where some of them have anglicized the name to Wilbert or Wilbur, while others have kept the original spelling. Other variants of the name found in the United States include Wilburt, Wilbord, Wilbourn, Wilberta, Wilberty, and Wilborn.

People with the surname Willbert can also be found in Canada, where variants such as Wilbour, Wilbery, Wilburton, Wilburth, Wilbry, Wilbrait, Wilbar, and Wilbrette are found.

Famous people with the name Willbert

• Ed Willbert, a pioneering special effects artist in film and television.
• Emily Willbert, professional runner who competed in the NCAA Division II track championships.
• Yvonne Willbert, an Australian born actress and singer who's been in projects such as Grease and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
• Lila Willbert, a critically-acclaimed Canadian author whose novels have won the Governor General's Literary Award.
• Jimmy Willbert, an American R&B singer-songwriter who released his debut album in 1995.
• Andrew Willbert, a noted professional chef who has cooked for some of the world's top restaurants.
• Eric Willbert, a professional basketball player who played for the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks.
• Barry Willbert, a producer and actor who's starred in projects such as The Inbetweeners and Inspector George Gently.
• Matt Willbert, an American musician and songwriter who's released four albums as a solo artist.
• William Willbert, an experimental film maker who is known for his distinct visual style.

Other surnames

WillbernWillbertz