Surname Ulbricht - Meaning and Origin

Ulbricht: What does the surname Ulbricht mean?

The surname Ulbricht is of German origin and derived from the Old German words “ulb” and “reht,” which mean “inheritance” and “right,” respectively. The surname was likely created to denote an inheritance right or entitlement among the families’ members. According to one source, the Ulbricht surname is a patronymic name, which indicated that it was an “Americanization” of the Germanic “Ubald” or “Ulman” names.

Today, there is a small community of people with the last name Ulbricht located in the United States, mainly in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, as well as Germany and Austria. The first Ulbricht to arrive in the United States was Johann Ulbricht, a German immigrant who left his home country in the early 1880s to start a new life in America.

In more recent times, the last name Ulbricht is most commonly associated with East German politician, Walter Ulbricht. He served as the first leader of East Germany and, from 1949 to 1971, was instrumental in the efforts to isolate or “wall-off” East Germany from the West.

The legacy of the last name Ulbricht is one of dedication to making a better life for oneself and one’s descendants. It is a name that honors hard work, ambition, and the pursuit of the “American Dream.” Ulbricht is the surname of brave immigrants and subsequent generations who have dared to strive for success in their chosen fields.

Ulbricht: Where does the name Ulbricht come from?

The last name Ulbricht is primarily found in Germany, with some occurrences in other European countries. It is derived from the Germanic personal name Ulbreht which means "noble" or "famous". The name is likely to have originated among noble people and slowly spread to commoners following the custom of taking surnames from the feudal lords. Today, there are large numbers of people with the last name Ulbricht living in Germany. Moreover, smaller numbers of the name occur in other countries with significant German populations, including Russia, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland.

In the United States, the last name Ulbricht is rarer. Only 2,851 people in the US currently bear the name, according to the US Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. The largest population of people with the last name, not surprisingly, can be found in Wisconsin, a prominent hub of German-American immigration. Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa follow as the other states with the highest nail of Ulbrichts.

Overall, the last name Ulbricht is most commonly associated with Germany. However, a small number of people in other countries around the world still bear this uncommon name.

Variations of the surname Ulbricht

The surname Ulbricht is a German surname with multiple spelling variants, including Ulbrich, Ulbrecht, Uelbrecht, Ullbrich, and Ullbrecht. It is a patrynomic name, meaning one of its original bearers must have had the given name Ulbrecht, or “Ultramar”, coined from the Old High German word for “overseas”.

One of the earliest records of the name is from 1332, when one Heinc Ulbrich was recorded in Schwaben. The name is thought to have first been used in the area of modern Saxony, in what is now Saxony-Anhalt. It was popularized by Elector Friedrich Wilhelm III’s Eulenburg coat of arms, which contains the Ulbricht surname.

The name has spread from Saxony to Germany and beyond. It was very common in the former East Germany, where the name of the nation’s first leader, Walter Ulbricht, was based on it. Over time, the family name Ulbricht has also spread as far as the US, Australia, South Africa, Canada and the UK.

In addition to its spelling variants, the name Ulbricht is also associated with a number of different surnames. These include Albritch, Ulbrits, Ulbrecher, Ulbrecht, Uelbrecht, and Ullbrich. All of these are of German origin, and likely derive from the same source.

Famous people with the name Ulbricht

• Karl Ulbricht: A German politician and armaments manufacturer who headed the Dwarfers' Association and later became the first leader of East Germany.
• Robert Ulbricht: Son of Karl Ulbricht and an East German politician who served in different ministerial posts in East Germany’s cabinet from 1949 to 1973.
• Edda Ulbricht: Daughter of Karl Ulbricht and wife of former East German Prime Minister Willy Stoph.
• Bernd Ulbricht: An East German politician who served as Minister of the Interior from 1961 until 1971.
• Hans Ulbricht: An East German diplomat and ambassador to the United Nations from 1971 to 1986.
• Heinrich Ulbricht: Brother of Karl Ulbricht and politician who served as a member of the SPD, the German Communist Party and Deputy Minister of Economics in East Germany.
• Hedwig Ulbricht: Sister of Karl Ulbricht and better known by her married name Hedwig Macziol, she was a Polish politician and a member of the National Women’s Council of Poland.
• Reinhardt Ulbricht: Son of Karl Ulbricht and an East German official who briefly served as regional leader of Saxony from 1950 to 1951.
• Sieglinde Ulbricht: Daughter-in-law of Karl Ulbricht and wife of former East German Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council of State of the German Democratic Republic, Willy Stoph.
• Ryszard Ulbricht: A Polish writer and political activist.

Other surnames

UlbrichUlbrichs