Surname Erben - Meaning and Origin

Journey Through Ancestry: A Fascinating Voyage into the Roots of the Erben Family with iGENEA DNA Analysis

Embarking on a voyage of discovering my roots through iGENEA's DNA analysis, I discovered surprising facts about my surname Erben. The odyssey showcased how the Erbens began their journey in Central Europe and evolved over centuries across continents.

V. Erben

Erben: What does the surname Erben mean?

Erben is a German last name that is thought to derive from the Middle High German word "erbe," which translates to "inheritor." It is likely that this name was originally used to denote a family in which its members had traditionally been chosen as heir to a title or estate, and from there, was adopted as a surname. For some families, the name may have also originated from places named Erben, such as in the Rheinland-Palatinate area.

The Erben surname can be quite common in Germany. Its variant spellings include Erb, Erban, Erbacher, Erbe, Erbener, Erber, Erphelt, Erpfelts, Erpfells and Yerban. Outside of continental Europe, there are also instances where the surname has been spelled as Arban, Arbeneau, Arben, Herb, Herban and Herben.

An interesting historical mention of this name comes from the Order of the Teutonic Knights, a German military order established in 1198. According to records, one Walter Erben was a successful Austrian merchant during the 13th century who joined this order, later rising in the ranks to become the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights.

In present times, the Erben surname is still popular in many countries around the world. Those who carry it can take pride in knowing that it has roots that date back many centuries, and is a tribute to their forebears who settled in their respective homelands throughout history.

Erben: Where does the name Erben come from?

The last name Erben is most commonly found in Germany and Central Europe today. The last name can also be found in certain parts of the United States, particularly in areas with a large influx of German immigrants such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

The etymology of the name Erben is not perfectly clear, though it is thought to be derived from an old German word meaning 'heir'. It is likely that the surname was originally created by families of noble origin to indicate that their descendants were the rightful heirs to their titles or properties.

Erben is most often found in areas that were formerly part of the German Empire, prior to its dissolution in 1918. It is also found in areas which had a large influx of German settlers during the 19th and 20th centuries, such as the United States.

The frequency of the name Erben varies from region to region. In some areas, such as large urban centres in Germany, the name is quite common. In other regions, such as rural Germany and certain parts of the United States, it is much less common.

Variations of the surname Erben

Erben is a surname of German origin. It derived from the German word “erbe”, meaning “heir” or “inheritance”. Other variants and spellings of Erben surname are Erbin, Erb, Irbin, Erban, Erbens, Erbs, Arben and Arbens.

In some cases, Erben surname is used as a first name, such as J. Erben (Romanian poet and author).

The most common alternative spelling of Erben surname in the United States is Erb. Erben surname is one of the oldest German surnames, with records of its existence in the 13th century.

Other variants and surnames of the same origin include: Erbenköster, Erberich, Erbern, Erbenich, Erber, Erbo, Erbel, Erbes, Erbesmann, Erbacher, Erbenheim, Erberick, Erberiel,.

Erbek and Erbt.

Erben surname is also found in Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands. In some cases, variants of the surname have been Anglicized to Arbor, Erban, Arbens and Arben.

Famous people with the name Erben

• Jaroslav Erben (1811-1870), a Bohemian poet and playwright.
• Pat Erben (born 1940), American retired football player.
• Larry Erben (born 1945), a retired US Major League Baseball player.
• Karl Erben (1843-1928), German zootomist and ornithologist.
• Marcus Erben (born 1985), a German contemporary artist.
• László Erben (1831-1902), a Hungarian journalist and writer.
• Markéta Irglová (born 1988), born Markéta Erbová, Czech musician and actress.
• Petr Erben (born 1959), Czech composer, singer and arranger.
• Valérie Erben (born 1981), French bobsleigh pilot.
• Josef Erben (1903-1992), Czech poet, novelist and playwright.

Other surnames

ErbeErbektasErbelErberErbertErbes