Surname Liebal - Meaning and Origin
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Liebal: What does the surname Liebal mean?
The last name Liebal is of German origin, and is believed to be a variant spelling of Liebel. It likely derived from the word "liebe," which translates to "love" in English. The surname was likely adopted as a reference to a love or beloved one.
The Liebel spelling was most common in Bavaria, Germany, while the version with the ‘a’ emerged in the Prussian provinces. The name is now found mainly throughout Germany and America.
Liebel is believed to have been used as a given name in some German-speaking areas. It was possibly inspired by medieval writings like the “Song of the Nibelungs”, from which a genre of German love poetry may have been derived.
In recent decades the Liebel and Liebal spellings have been increasingly used together. This has caused some confusion about the origin of the surname. Both spellings are equally accepted, however the Liebal was thought to have served as an alternate spelling of the name, originating in Prussian provinces.
The surname Liebal is today most common in America, particularly in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. A notable bearer of the name was Heinrich Friedrich Liebal, who was the first mayor of Dayton, Ohio.
There are many variations in spelling found for this family name, including Liebel, Liebal, Lible, Libel, and Libbel. Despite the variations, all versions of the name derive from the same origin, and can all be traced back to Germany.
Order DNA origin analysisLiebal: Where does the name Liebal come from?
The last name Liebal is most commonly found in Germany today. It can be found in areas such as Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. It is also found in some parts of Austria and Switzerland.
The earliest records of the Liebal surname come from the small town of Wiesenfelden, situated north of Regensburg in Bavaria, Germany. This town is located in the district of Straubing. It was here, in 1818, that Johann Liebal, a butcher and the progenitor of the Liebal line, settled. He married Francisca Wilhelm, and together they had nine children - Andreas, Johann Michael, Francisca, Johann, and Peter (twins), Johann Sebastian, Peter Joseph, Agatha, and finally Johann Heinrich.
Since then, the Liebal family has spread out throughout Germany as well as to other countries such as America, Australia, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. This is especially true today, given the ease of travel and migration. Interestingly, many people with the Liebal name have also reached out to an online research group in order to discover more about the Liebal surname and family history.
In general, the Liebal name is a relatively uncommon last name. However, it is still connected to a rich family history—one that sheds light on the lineage of the Liebal descendants who still reside in Germany and many other countries today.
Variations of the surname Liebal
The Liebal surname has several variants, spellings and surnames which all have the same origin. These include: Leibel, Leibell, Liebel, Liebael, Leibell, Lybell, Leibell, Liebelle, Lieble, Lybel, Libel and Libell. All these variants, spellings and surnames are derived from the German words 'līb' meaning love and 'hāl' meaning healthy.
The surname Liebal was first found in the former German state of Prussia. It is an old aristocratic family name which has roots in several parts of Germany including Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony and Bavaria. The family was involved in many aspects of German life including medicine, law, politics and the military.
In Germany, the surname is commonly found in the Upper Silesian region of Prussia. The surname is also common in the regions of East Prussia, Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia. It is also held by many families throughout eastern and western Europe, particularly in the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and Russia.
The surname Liebal has been popularized in recent times by the Liebel family from the United States. The family are descendants of German immigrants who moved to Pennsylvania in the mid-1800’s. The family have since gained a reputation for their success in business and politics.
The Liebal surname is still found in many German-speaking areas around the world. It is particularly common in regions where German is still spoken, such as Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. The surname is also found in eastern European countries such as Czech Republic, Romania, Poland and Russia. It is also held by many families throughout Europe, the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.
Famous people with the name Liebal
- Michael Liebaldt: German professional racing cyclist.
- Marc Liebald: French professional racing cyclist.
- Claire Liebald: American television producer.
- Robert Liebal: German writer and TV presenter.
- Andreas Liebald: Austrian singer, songwriter and guitarist.
- Caroline Liebald: German actress.
- Wolfgang Liebald: Austrian composer and conductor.
- Lars Liebald: German footballer and manager.
- Jakob Liebald: German entrepreneur and investor.
- Anton Liebald: German graphic designer, illustrator and documentary filmmaker.
- Mathias Liebald: Austrian photographer and technology specialist.
- David Liebald: American actor.
- Wolfgang Liebald: German sculptor and painter.
- Jan Liebald: Belgian film and theater director.
- Johannes Liebald: German architect and urban planner.
- Marijke Liebald: Dutch graphic designer and artist.
- Daniel Liebald: German modernist architect.
- Sophie Liebald: Austrian fashion designer.
- Markus Liebald: Austrian radio presenter and DJ.
- Maria Liebald: German costume designer and graphic artist.