Frequency: (332)
(number of times this surname appears in a sample database of 88.7 million names, representing one third of the 1997 US population)
1. North German: variant of Hilbert, or from another Germanic compound personal name, Helmbert, composed of the elements helm ‘helmet’, ‘protection’ + berht ‘bright’, ‘illustrious’.
2. French and Dutch: from a Germanic personal name composed of the elements heil ‘healthy’ + berht ‘bright’, ‘illustrious’.
3. Dutch: hypercorrected form of Elbert.
See the Key to the Dictionary or consult the General Introduction for further explanation.
Dictionary of American Family Names. Copyright © 2006 Patrick Hanks. All rights reserved.
