Surname Wilberts - Meaning and Origin
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Wilberts: What does the surname Wilberts mean?
The surname Wilberts is of Germanic origin, and derives from a combination of the words “wil” meaning “desire” and “berht” meaning “bright” or “illustrious.” Therefore, the name Wilberts is thought to mean a "bright desire" or an “illustrious desire” in translation.
The surname is quite uncommon, and was most likely brought over to America some time around the mid-1700s as that was a time of high immigration of Germans to the United States. Interestingly, early records show that the name was actually Wilbertz, which was likely an evolution of the original name due to Anglicization of the spelling over time.
Today, the Wilberts surname is quite rare, but can still be found throughout the United States, especially in Pennsylvania, where early immigrants settled. Most commonly, Wilberts are of German or Dutch descent, and have professions in a variety of industries, ranging from industrial and engineering to business and technology.
Overall, the surname Wilberts reflects a desire for something lofty and bright--a perfect metaphor for what most people strive to attain in life. Whether that be a desired job, a successful business, or rewarding relationships, this surname encapsulates a timeless truth: to reach for one’s full potential and always strive for the brightest of desires.
Order DNA origin analysisWilberts: Where does the name Wilberts come from?
The last name Wilberts is most commonly found in Germany, where it dates back to the 16th century. Wilberts is relatively uncommon in other countries, but it does appear in small numbers in other parts of Europe, North America, and Australia.
In Germany, Wilberts is a predominantly Protestant name and is often found in Saxony and Prussia, where it likely originated. Early records indicate that some Wilberts families in Germany trace their ancestry back to Philippe Wilberts, who was born in 1585 in Saxony.
In North America, Wilberts can be found in several states, but the numbers are comparatively quite low. There is evidence that one of the first Wilberts to arrive in North America was Peter Wilberts, born around 1688. He may have been the first of his line to arrive in New York and then Pennsylvania.
Wilberts is not a common name in Australia, but it does appear in records as early as 1839, when one inhabitant of Adelaide, South Australia, was recorded as a Wilberts. Additionally, there are a handful of Wilberts communities in various parts of Australia.
Overall, the last name Wilberts is most common in Germany, but it does appear in the records of various other countries and regions around the world.
Variations of the surname Wilberts
The surname Wilberts is an English and Dutch toponymic surname, thought to be derived from a placename derived from the Old English wilig, meaning ‘willow’, and berht, meaning ‘bright’ or ‘illustrious’. Variants and alternate spellings of the surname include Wilburt, Wilburts, Wolbert, Wilbere, Wilbeer, Wilbert, Wilbers, Wilborts, Wilbertse, Willberts, Willbart, Willburt, and Wilberson.
In some cases, Wilberts may be a patronymic or metronymic surname, formed by the addition of a masculine personal name affix such as -son, indicating “son of Wilbe” or “son of Wilbre”. In Dutch culture, the letter “s” is often added to the end of a patronymic surname to indicate “son of”, resulting in surnames such as Wilbersen or Wilbertsen. In German-speaking countries, an alternate spelling of Wilberts, Wilbers, is also encountered.
Wilberts may also be an Anglicized version of the German and Dutch surname Wilbers, which is derived directly from the given name Wilbert. Wilbert is in turn derived from the Old High German Wilburg, composed of the elements wil, meaning ‘willow’, and bert, which can mean ‘bright’ or ‘illustrious’. Other surnames from the same source include Wilbere, Wilbertse, Wilberson, Wilburt, and Wilborts.
In some instances, Wilberts may also be derived from other surnames. For example, Wilberson is a patronymic surname, stemming from the given name Wilbur, which is in turn derived from the Old German Wilhelm, meaning ‘wish’ and ‘desire’. Other variants of the name include Wilbortz, Wilbertz, Wilbarts, and Wilbart. Additionally, Wilberts may be a variant of the English surname Wilpshire, which may be derived from the Old English for ‘willow’ and ‘woodland’.
Famous people with the name Wilberts
- Austin Wilberts: American professional basketball player
- Edward Wilberts: doctor, author and retired professor of medicine at Loyola University Chicago
- Garnet Wilberts: Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach
- Marvin Wilberts: former NFL football lineman
- Pat Wilberts: former Major League Baseball outfielder
- Rosalind Wilberts: poet and academic
- Alina Wilberts: German chess grandmaster
- Derek Wilberts: British professional boxer
- Joan Wilberts: American actor and television host
- Stephen Wilberts: French philosopher and diplomat