Surname Wilbrand - Meaning and Origin

Wilbrand: What does the surname Wilbrand mean?

The surname Wilbrand is a patronymic name derived from the medieval Germanic given name Willibrand, which means "will-resolver" or "brave-determiner." This name likely originated from the Germanic personal name Willi, which is derived from the Germanic word "willa" meaning "resolve." Thus, Willibrand would have been bestowed upon a strong-willed and determined individual.

The surname Wilbrand also likely had some connotations of leadership, as Willibrand can be interpreted as someone whose will was strong enough to lead and command. This could have been an especially desirable trait for a Germanic warrior or noble. At some point, the name became associated with an individual's physical strength, so Willibrands were known for being both brave and resolute.

The Wilbrand surname is still found today in Germany, the Netherlands, and other German-speaking countries. It is quite rare in the English-speaking world.

Wilbrand: Where does the name Wilbrand come from?

The last name Wilbrand is a Germanic surname found predominantly in Germany and other parts of the Germanic-speaking world, particularly in Belgium and the Netherlands. It is most common in the Western parts of Germany, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony and Hesse. It can also be found in some other parts of Europe, especially the Netherlands, and has also spread to the United States, where there are several thousand Wilbrand family members living in both America and Canada. The name is derived from the Old Germanic "wil", meaning "will" or "desire", and "brand", meaning "sword". This is likely a reference to an ancestor with a martial spirit. The popularity of the name has shifted slightly over time, and it is now less popular than it was in the 19th century. However, there are still thousands of Wilbrand family members living in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and the United States.

Variations of the surname Wilbrand

The surname Wilbrand has many variants, spellings, and alternate spellings. The most common spellings include Wilbraham, Wilbrands, Wilberham, Wilberhams, Wilbrant, Wilbrent, Wilbraam, Wilbrent, Wilbrem, Wilbrehams, Wilbrin, Wilbren, Wilbris, Wilbrom, Wilbrough, Wilbrohms, and Wilbourne. Additionally, Wilbraxton and Wilbrex are also sometimes found.

Among the surnames of similar origin, such as Wilkenson, Wilkins, Wilcox, Wilcoxon, and Wilcoxson, Wilbrand is a Germanic last name which developed separately. Its root word is derived from the Germanic "will" and "brandt" which mean 'brave' and 'sword' respectively. The name likely began as a personal name, Wilbrandt, and eventually made its way into surnames.

The surname Wilbrand is still common today, and is found in many countries around the world. It is especially popular in the Netherlands, where it is the fourth most popular surname in 2018. In Germany, the spelling Wilbrandt is more commonly used than Wilbrand, although both versions of the surname are found. In the United States, Wilbrand is the 17,337th most common surname. Variations of the surname can be spelled with two or three 'l's (Wilbraham or Wilbrandt) and two or three 'r's (Wilbram or Wilbrant). In the twenty-first century, the surname Wilbrand continues to be an integral part of many families' histories.

Famous people with the name Wilbrand

• Jacob Wilbrand: German theologian and liturgical writer.
• Charles Wilbrand: former French professional road bicycle racer.
• Jerry Wilbrand: American former professional boxer.
• Lawerence Wilbrand: American mountaineer, explorer and teaching professional.
• Reinhard Wilbrand: German sculptor and graphic designer.
• Peter Wilbrand: Dutch boxer who won the Dutch national titles in the featherweight class in 1969 and 1970.
• Herman Wilbrand: German theologian who wrote tentative works on early Christian literature.
• Victoria Wilbrand: American neurosurgical resident and adult reconstructive surgery fellow.
• Karl Wilbrand: German Protestant theologian and author of several books on church history.
• John Wilbrand: American inventor and storyteller who worked for the Walt Disney Company.

Other surnames

Wilbrandt