Surname Folbert - Meaning and Origin

Folbert: What does the surname Folbert mean?

The last name Folbert is a patronymic surname believed to originate from Germany and the Netherlands. It translates to "son of Folbert (Folbehrt, full of bright fame)".

The surname is thought to derive from a name combining the Old High German words ‘fol’ meaning “people” and ‘berht’ meaning “bright” or “famous”, so it could literally be translated as “bright famous people/person”.

The surname is thought to have been originated by individuals who were respected in their community, likely for their great deeds or leadership capabilities. It could aslo be a nick name given to somebody considered “bright” or “famous”.

Folbert is an uncommon surname which is mainly found in the Netherlands, Germany and the United States. There are currently not many notable people who carry the name Folbert today, however, the surname has been around since medieval times.

The surname Folbert also appears as Volksert, Folbart, Fulbert, and Folbehrt in the regions it is found.

Overall, the surname Folbert suggests that the original bearer of the name was a respected and famous individual. The surname also speaks to the importance of the accomplishments and contributions of the family patriarchs.

Folbert: Where does the name Folbert come from?

The last name Folbert is most common in the United States, where it ranks at just over 15,000 on the list of most common names. It is also found in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, though the frequency of occurrences is much lower.

The name is likely of Germanic origin, derived from the ancient word "Folbert," meaning "very bright." It is most often seen as an anglicized version of the German surname "Vollbrecht," which has a similar meaning.

The vast majority of Folberts living in the United States are of German descent, though there are other European and even some Middle Eastern immigrants with the last name. The states with the most Folbert families are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, where the majority of the population is of German American heritage.

The Folbert name has been found in records dating back to at least the 18th century, and was common even before that. In Pennsylvania, it was one of the more popular German names in the colonial era, with many Folberts serving in the Revolutionary Army.

Today, the Folbert name is still found in various parts of the world. It is a reminder of past generations and the sacrifices many made so that their descendants could live in the present.

Variations of the surname Folbert

Folbert is a surname of German origin with variants, spellings and related surnames often found throughout Europe.

Variants of the Folbert surname include Folbardt, Folbard, Fulbert, Fulberti, Fulburt, and Folbirt. Spellings of the Folbert surname that diverge slightly from the original include Folberti, Fulbart, Fulbright, Fulbarth, and Fulberti.

The English versions of the Folbert surname include Folbort, Folburt, Fulbore, Fulbort, Fullbor, Fulbright, Fulburt, Fibert, Fibart, and Fiburt. These versions were adopted throughout England especially following the Norman Invasion of 1066.

In Poland, the Folbert surname is known by the variants Fulbert, Fulbirt, and Fulbort. Dutch versions of the Folbert surname include Vollbert, Volbert, and Follbert.

The Folbert surname is also found in France and Spain, where variants of the name include Foulbert, Fulbert, Folber, von Foulbert, and von Fulbert.

In Scandinavia, the related surnames Oldefort and Olafort are both derived from the original Germanic Folbert surname. Iceland and Norway, meanwhile, both feature the surname Folbret.

Other related Folbert surnames include Fulbourn, Filbert, and Filborn. Surnames derived from the Folbert surname in other parts of the world include Folbort, Filberti, and Voelbourg.

Famous people with the name Folbert

• Joe Folbert: American politician and member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Michael Folbert: American professional football player who was a defensive end
• Natalya Folbert: American figure skater
• Paul Folbert: American pro golfer
• Josh Folbert: American actor, best known for his roles in “The Walking Dead” and “24”
• Barbara Folbert: American former CEO and president of the Folbert Corporation
• Robby Folbert: American former professional basketball player
• Carlos Folbert: American pastor and evangelist
• Gary Folbert: American former Major League Baseball pitcher
• Tommy Folbert: American television producer and screenwriter

Other surnames

Folberth