Surname Hildebrecht - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Hildebrecht: What does the surname Hildebrecht mean?
The German-language surname Hildebrecht is of patronymic origin – derived from the given name Hildebrand. The name itself is composed of two elements: ‘Hild’, which is a short form of the Germanic name Hilde, meaning ‘battle’, and ‘brand’, which translates to ‘fire’. Therefore, when combined, the surname Hildebrecht can be interpreted to mean something along the lines of ‘the brave one that is fiery in battle’.
The earliest known mention of this surname is documented in 1150, when one Hellmuth Biltebreht from Celle in Lower Saxony, Germany was recorded. In the centuries that followed, Hans Hildebrecht of Altona, Jacob Hildebrecht of Stettin and Jonas Hildebrecht of Plock in Prussia (now Poland) are a few of the individuals that are known to have used this surname.
Although it is no longer as common as in its origin country of Germany, the surname has spread to other parts of the world. One area where the name Hildebrecht can still be encountered today is in the United States. Here, descendants of immigration from Germany still carry the surname, although it is now sometimes rendered as Hildebrand, Hillbrecht, and Hilbrecht.
The Hildebrecht family suggests valour, bravery, and a fiery spirit in battle. It is a surname associated with a rich history and is one that continues to be passed down through generations, in both Germany and other parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisHildebrecht: Where does the name Hildebrecht come from?
The last name Hildebrecht is a German surname which is still quite common in Germany. It is believed to be a specific type of given name; derived from either the Old German element 'hilde', meaning 'battle', and 'berht', meaning 'shining' or 'bright', or the Old German personal name 'Hildeberht', meaning 'battle-shining'. The surname is also found in other German-speaking countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. It is also found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where people of German ancestry may have emigrated from Germany. As is typical with many German-based surnames, slight variations in spelling, such as Hildebrech, Hildebraught, Hildebrahx, and Hildebrehct may exist in different countries.
The current population of Germany is estimated to be around 83 million people. According to White Pages, the last name Hildebrecht is not particularly common. A search of White Pages for Germany reveals only 158 individuals with the last name Hildebrecht. Similarly, a search of the White Pages for the United States reveals only 15 people with the last name Hildebrecht. It appears that this surname is most concentrated in the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, and North Carolina.
In conclusion, the surname Hildebrecht is still quite common in Germany, although it is not highly concentrated. It has lent its name to various German towns, such as Hildebrecht, as evidence of its being quite popular among Germans over the centuries. Outside of Germany, it is not very common and is rarely found in countries such as the United States.
Variations of the surname Hildebrecht
The surname Hildebrecht is a German-language surname. It has a variety of different spellings and alternate forms. The most common variant of Hildebrecht is Hilbrecht, which is the standard spelling in Germany. The variants Hildenbrecht and Hildenbrechtsen are also found in Germany and the Netherlands.
Other variations of the Hildebrecht surname include Heldebrecht, Hilbrecht, Hillbrecht, and Hillebrecht. All of these variants are derived from a single German root word, "hilde," which means "battle." The "brecht" suffix at the end of the surname is a Germanic or Dutch word meaning "Protection" or "Shield." This likely indicates that the origin of the surname Hildebrecht is related to a desire to be protected or shielded in battle.
In some cases, immigrants from Germany and other parts of Europe changed the spelling of their surname to make it easier to enunciate or recognize. Therefore, some other variations and forms of Hildebrecht include: Hilbrecht, Heldbrecht, Hiltbrecht, Hiltbrect, Hildebreck, Hillebrecht, Hildenbrecht, Hildenbrak, Hillbrecht, Hallbrecht, Hilderbrecht, and Hillolkar.
In addition to different spellings of the surname, there are also surnames of similar origin that are derived from the same root word "hilde." These include Hilderbran, Hildemann, Hilderman, Hilderscheider, Hildenbrand, Hilfers, Hilger, Hilker, and Hillis.
Famous people with the name Hildebrecht
- Joseph Hildebrandt (1592-1653), German poet
- Philip Hildebrandt (1880-1960), German art historian and professor at the University of Munich
- Karl Hildebrandt (1876-1944), German actor and film director
- Fred Hildebrandt (1947-2012), American politician
- Rotraud Hildebrandt (born 1949), German actress
- Geno Hildebrandt (born 1971), German artist and glass artist
- Wolfgang Hildebrandt (born 1964), German physicist
- Wolfgang Hildebrandt (born 1965), German football player
- Wolf-Christian Hildebrandt (born 1952), German art historian
- Matthias Hildebrandt (born 1953), German politician
- Peter Hildebrandt (born 1958), German actor
- Tine Hildebrandt (born 1971), German chess grandmaster