Surname Gilbert - Meaning and Origin

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J. Gilbert

Gilbert: What does the surname Gilbert mean?

The last name Gilbert is of Norman-French origin, derived from the compound of two Germanic words, "gisil," meaning "hostage" or "noble youth," and "berht," meaning "bright" or "famous." Thus, the combined meaning of Gilbert can be translated to "bright pledge" or "famous pledge." It was initially introduced to England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name was used in a variety of European countries and eventually spread worldwide due to emigration. It has been adopted by various communities, including Christians and Jews, as a first name, last name, or place name. Although the name has such noble meanings, it was typically given to children of nobility who were sent to foreign courts as a pledge of peace during the Middle Ages. Over time, it has been used less as a first name and more as a surname, with multiple notable bearers in various fields such as literature, sciences, the arts, and politics.

Gilbert: Where does the name Gilbert come from?

The surname Gilbert is of Norman French origins, traced back to the time of the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. The name is derived from the pre 7th century word "gisle" and "berht", meaning 'noble youth'. The name was brought to England by the Normans and became widespread throughout England and Scotland. The popularity of the name was further boosted by a 7th-century French saint, Saint Gilbert of Sempringham. An alternate theory posits that the name could trace back to the German or Dutch personal name "Gisilbert".

Today, the surname Gilbert is common in The United States, England, Canada, Australia and France. It's a very popular name in the places where French and English are widely spoken. The Gilbert family is particularly prevalent in the U.S. state of Georgia. Although the name has spread throughout the world due to migration, variants of the surname Gilbert are also found in other countries like Gilbertson, Giselbert, and Gilbart.

Variations of the surname Gilbert

The surname Gilbert has several variants and spellings that have evolved over time and in different cultures. Some of these include Gilbart, Gilberd, Gilbird, Gilburd, Giselbert, Gilbirt, and Gilebert, among others.

In addition, Gilbert could also be derived from the surname Giselbert, from Germanic origin. Other surnames coming from the same origin (of the personal name 'Giselbert') can include Gilbey, Gilby, Giselbertus, or even Gifford or Jelf.

There are other mistransliterations like Gibert, Gebert, or Gilberti. Also in some languages, it may take the form of Žilbert in Slovenian, Jilbert in Armenian, or Τζίλμπερτ in Greek. Furthermore, in French, it may also be written as Gilberte or as Joubert, reflecting French pronunciation.

The surname Gilbert is also prevalent with different spellings in other countries, such as Gilberto in Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, or Gilbertas in Lithuanian. The distribution and frequency of specific variants of the name have always been influenced by regional linguistic practices and dialects.

Remember, these are merely possibilities – tracing the origin and variants of surnames definitively often requires detailed genealogical research.

Famous people with the name Gilbert

• Sara Gilbert: An American actress, best known for her role as Darlene Conner on the ABC sitcom Roseanne.
• Melissa Gilbert: An American actress and director, who rose to fame as a child actress playing Laura Ingalls on the NBC series Little House on the Prairie.
• John Gilbert: A popular leading man in the Hollywood silent film era.
• Elizabeth Gilbert: An American author, essayist, short story writer, and novelist known for her 2006 memoir, "Eat, Pray, Love."
• Rhod Gilbert: A Welsh comedian who gained widespread popularity in the UK.
• Brantley Gilbert: A popular American country music singer, songwriter, and record producer.
• Cass Gilbert: An influential American architect known for designing iconic structures like the Woolworth Building in New York City.
• Alfred Gilbert: An English sculptor and goldsmith who was one of the most important figures in the New Sculpture movement.
• Humphrey Gilbert: An adventurer, explorer, member of parliament and soldier during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
• Sir William Schwenck Gilbert: An English dramatist, poet, and illustrator best known for his collaboration with Arthur Sullivan on a series of comic operas.
• Paul Gilbert: An American hard rock/heavy metal guitarist known for being a co-founder of the band Mr. Big.

Other surnames

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