Surname Köbert - Meaning and Origin
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Köbert: What does the surname Köbert mean?
Köbert is a German-origin surname, derived from the given name ‘Köbel’ which means ‘small cask’ or ‘small box’. This surname is often found in the south of Germany, especially in Bavaria, and is also quite common in Austria and Switzerland.
Historically, Köbert was likely an occupational surname, indicating someone who was involved in the production of barrels, boxes or containers. This could have been a cooper, a carpenter, or even a blacksmith. It was also likely used as a metonymic or patronymic surname, referring to a person’s father or grandfather who had this occupation. As the surname developed, some people using the surname would have adopted it as a surname, leading to wider spread of its usage.
Today, the surname Köbert is mainly found as a stand-alone surname, but there are some variants such as Köberle, Köberlin, Kuber, Kueber, and Kübler. In some cases, it may also be found combined with a second name, for example, if a child was given both a parent’s name as their double first name.
Generally speaking, the surname Köbert carries no particular connotations - it is a surname that has been used by many different people for many centuries, and does not point to any particular profession, trade or culture.
Order DNA origin analysisKöbert: Where does the name Köbert come from?
The last name Köbert is most common in German-speaking countries, specifically Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It is also found in many other parts of Europe, namely the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. Additionally, the name can be found in countries such as Canada, the United States, and Australia, as families of German origin emigrated to these countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The earliest version of the name was recorded as Köberlin in 1321 in Bavaria, Germany. It likely originates from the Old High German name 'Kobelin' and the Middle High German 'Köbelin'. This was composed of the words 'Kobel' and 'Lint', the former referring to an animal pen or cage and the latter a so-called spark. The surname could therefore mean either someone who owned or managed an animal pen or occurred as a nickname for someone who was either lively, sparky or quick-witted.
The name was popular in the north of Germany and spread to the south-west. The spelling 'Köbert' is an alternate spelling, where the 'ö' is replaced by an 'o'.
Today, Köbert is a popular surname in the countries already mentioned. It is estimated that over 7,000 people in Germany bear the name, and over 1,000 in Austria and Switzerland. In the Netherlands, it is estimated that around 550 families live with this surname.
Given its popularity, you are likely to find someone with the last name Köbert regardless of your whereabouts.
Variations of the surname Köbert
The surname Köbert is of Germanic origin and has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The main spelling of Köbert is also spelled Koebert, Köbbert, Koeberth, Koebbert, Koeber, Koebber, Kobert, Koeboot, and Koebeitz.
Köbert is sometimes also spelled Keuber, Kauber, Kaube, and Kaubel, which are all forms of Köbert. Some variations of the surname can include Koepfer, Kopfet, Kopf, Kopff, Kessler, and Kieffer.
Köbert was originally a descriptive name derived from the German word “kobert”, meaning cooper, and indicates that its original bearers were coopers involved with making barrels for storing wines and spirits.
The surname Köbert can also be found in many European countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Belgium, Netherlands, Hungary, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Slovakia.
The variants of Köbert are often found in the U.S. due to immigration, with multiple form spellings and multiple surname formulations. For example, the Köbert surname can be found as Koeber, Koepfer, Kopf, Koppett, or Kessler.
Overall, the many versions of Köbert, as well as its variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, are all connected to the original German word for cooper. As such, the surname Köbert has spread to many countries and can be found in both the U.S. and Europe.
Famous people with the name Köbert
- Alexander Köbert: the former chairman and CEO of Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie
- Anna Köbert: a journalist and author
- Arthur Köbert: a former Caltex Socceroo from Australia
- Adolf Köbert: a German composer and choirmaster
- Berlin-based Armand Köbert: an electronic music producer
- Colby Köbert: a professional skateboarder
- John Köbert: a Dutch professional footballer
- Johannes Köbert: a German pediatrician and academic
- Martin Köbert: an Austrian biathlete and cross-country skier
- Wilfried Köbert: a German Roman Catholic priest
- Vincent Köbert: a German artist and sculptor
- Willibald Köbert: a German footballer
- Wolfgang Köbert: a German architect and professor
- Ronan Köbert: a French ice hockey player and coach
- Steve Köbert: an American comedian, writer, and actor