Surname Albee - Meaning and Origin
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Albee: What does the surname Albee mean?
The last name Albee is of English origin and is a variant spelling of the name Aubrey. This name may be derived from the Anglo-Norman French name Alberi, which was a personal name originating from the Germanic nameAldberaht. This name was composed of the elements ald, meaning "old" and beraht, meaning "bright".
The surname Albee often referred to someone who was of noble descent, as aubrey is thought to have been a name given to Lord's or Lady's children and was often bestowed by royalty on personal retainers. It was first borne as a personal name in the 12th century when surnames were first starting to be adopted in England.
Albee is also thought to be of Breton origin, where renaming was a common practice among soldiers. In Brittany, the name was given to a member of the nobility, or a prominent family.
People with this surname are commonly referred to descendants of some family living in Berkshire, Norfolk, and Oxfordshire England. They are believed to have been related to a certain Aubrey de Vere, who was a Norman lord of these regions.
Overall, the last name Albee may have derived from a combination of French, Breton, and English roots and is connected to the ancient Germanic name Alberaht, usually indicating a person of high noble ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisAlbee: Where does the name Albee come from?
The last name Albee is most notably found in the United States, where it is most common in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions, especially in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It is also found in many other parts of the country, including Indiana, Florida, California, Nevada and Texas.
The surname Albee has English origins, and its first appearance in American records was in the early 1800s in Massachusetts, when brothers Moses and Reuben Albee arrived with their families. It is thought to have been derived from a Norman French word for a river or stream.
Today, there are more than 4,000 people in the United States with the last name Albee. As well as being found throughout the United States, it is also quite common in northern Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
It is a name that has featured in many notable listings, including U.S. President Franklin Pierce’s Secretary of State, William Learned Albee. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee was another famous bearer of the name. Albee is also the name of several towns and cities in the United States.
Variations of the surname Albee
The surname Albee has many variants and spellings, indicating a rich, diverse history. It is an English surname, derived from Anglo-Saxon, and is usually linked to the family of Alberich, who settled in England in the 10th century. The variants of Albee include Allbee, Allbey, Allbi, Albey, Albay, Albi, Elbee, Elfe, Elbey and Elbie.
Additionally, Albee is seen in many different surnames in various countries. It is linked to the German, Otterbein, which translates to “otter mountain,” and it can also sometimes be seen in the French, Allard or Allert, and in the Spanish, Alba or Alban. It may sometimes be seen as Albery, Alblie, Albee-Bowers, or in its original form as Alberic, Albery or Albe.
The surname has been used by different families and seen in different ways around the world. Some further variants include Albae, Allbery, Allbott, Allbotts, Allbutt, Allbut, Alberique, Alberic, Albisch, and many more. Any of these names could be a root of the original Albee, so it is worth exploring further.
Albee has been in use since the 1500s when English immigrants had arrived in America, and the surname remains common, though it becomes less common as getting to its roots has become more difficult. Nevertheless, it is a curious surname to explore, as its many variations offer plenty of clues to the family's diverse history.
Famous people with the name Albee
- Edward Albee: American playwright, three-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
- Diane Albee: American actress and singer, mostly known for her Broadway career.
- Alecia Albee: American drummer, who plays drums for the band Belly.
- Frank Albee: American stage actor and vaudevillian best known for touring extensively in both Edward Albee's and George S. Kaufman's plays.
- Mark Albee: American dancer, choreographer, director, and production designer who worked in television and films.
- Andrew Albee: American contemporary composer, who composes in several different genres.
- Virginia Albee: American artist whose work includes oils, inks, watercolors and collage, and photographs.
- Priscilla Albee: American abstract artist also known for her mixed media installations.
- Dorothea Albee: American landscape painter who began to paint nature in a minimalistic way to express her sense of wonder.
- Phillip Albee: American actor and voice-over artist, best known for his roles in the Broadway productions of Rent and Grease.