Surname Ebbe - Meaning and Origin
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Ebbe: What does the surname Ebbe mean?
The last name Ebbe is a German surname derived from Old Germanic personal names that start with "eb-" meaning “to stay” or “to abide.” In the Middle Ages, it was used in Germany as a given name, and it is also a popular modern given name in Scandinavia.
The earliest records of the name Ebbe in Germany are in the Rhineland region where it is recorded as a personal name as early as 1210, in the charters of Otton der Elder. It is documented in Mainz in 1354 and in Berlin in 1363.
In Germany the surname Ebbe was used by a variety of families across social and economic statuses. This is mainly because it can be derived from either a patronymic form, or from a place name.
Ebbe is a very popular surname in Germany and Denmark, where it is the 9th, and 54th most common name respectively.
Ebbe is also a popular last name in the United States, particularly among German Americans, where it ranked 9,154th for all surnames in the country in 2020. As a first name, it ranked 3,248th in the same year.
Today, the surname Ebbe is found all over the world due to immigration of German and Scandinavian families over the last century. It is a relatively common name, found mainly in Europe, North America, and Australia.
Order DNA origin analysisEbbe: Where does the name Ebbe come from?
The surname Ebbe is most commonly found in Denmark. Ebbe is a Danish and Norwegian surname that is derived from a place-name, likely derived from the Old Norse ‘ebba’, meaning “river”.
From the late 1800s or early 1900s, many Emigrants left Denmark, primarily for the United States, South Africa, Australia and Canada, and the surname is fairly widespread today in these countries. Ebbe is still the 332nd most common surname in Denmark, where it likely originated from.
In the United States, Ebbe is most frequently found in the mid-west region, particularly in Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. It is listed as the 17,560th most common surname. In South Africa, Ebbe is the 5,901st most common surname, and there’s a small presence in Australia, where it is the 12,411th most common surname. In Canada, the surname is the 24,407th most common surname.
In other parts of the world, the surname Ebbe appears to be significantly less prevalent. A cursory search of genealogical records does not list any individuals with the Ebbe surname in the United Kingdom, although it is possible that there may be some individuals bearing the name in non-English speaking areas. Records do show that the surname is present in Germany, where it is the 16,152nd most common surname, and in other countries across Europe, primarily in the Scandinavian region.
Variations of the surname Ebbe
The surname Ebbe is derived from the Old Germanic personal name Ansibodo, which was composed of two elements: the element 'ans' meaning 'gods,' and the element 'boði,' meaning 'command.' It is often spelled as Ebb, Eb, Ebbes, Ebbesen, Ebbing, and Ebba.
Variants of the surname Ebbe include Ebb, Ebbing, Ebberson, and Epp and Epps. These spellings were often created as a result of surnames being altered and changed to conform to the language of the person recording it at the time of migration or emigration, giving rise to numerous variations of the same surname.
In various dialects of German, Belgian, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages, the name was anglicized as Epp and Epps, as well as Epps, Eppes, Eben, Ebben, and Ebbers. These spellings are still found today in countries such as Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
In France, Ebbe has evolved into different spellings, including Ebbey, Ebbier, Ebby, and Ebbaut, which were established in the 12th century. In Scotland and Ireland, the name is also believed to have evolved into Ebbie and Ebbutt. In England, the surname Ebbe was also recorded as Ebbutt and Ebbot.
In the United States, the name Ebbe is often associated with American families of German descent, and is often spelled as Epp, Eppert, Eppers, Epperly, Epperson, or Ebbert.
Overall, it is clear that the surname Ebbe has evolved over centuries and across different countries, resulting in numerous spellings and variants of the same root surname.
Famous people with the name Ebbe
- Robert Ebbe: An American film, television, and stage actor.
- Jonathan Ebbe: A Dutch footballer.
- Aage Ebbe: A former Danish footballer and football manager.
- Meinrad Ebbe: A former Swiss figure skater.
- Jerry Ebbe: An American soccer player.
- Bjarne Ebbe: A Danish former athlete who specialized in the 200 metres.
- Eddie Ebbe: A former American football running back in the National Football League.
- Andreas Ebbe: A former Swedish footballer.
- Mo Ebbe: An American entrepreneur and executive in the technology and gaming industries.
- Henrik Ebbe: A Danish cartoonist.
- Fredrik Ebbe: A former Norwegian ski jumper and World Cup competitor.
- Christina Ebbe: An American author, speaker and entrepreneur.
- Pia Ebbe: A former Swedish handball player.
- Olle Ebbe: A Swedish politician who served as Chair of the Moderate Party from 2006 to 2007.
- Arne Ebbe: A former Norwegian cross country skier who competed from 1969 to 1970.
- Nurmi Ebbe: A Finnish former ski jumper who competed from 1965 to 1966.
- Lars-Håkon Ebbe: A Norwegian snowboarder.
- Per Åke Ebbe: A former Swedish Olympic alpine skier.
- Mette-Marit Ebbe: A former Norwegian handball player.
- Tauno Ebbe: A Finnish war hero who received Finland's highest award.