Biber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The ancestral home of the Biber family is in the German province of Bavaria. Biber is a German nickname surname. Such names came from eke-names, or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute. It is a name for a person who was known as hard-working or industrious. The distinguished name Biber is derived from the Old German word beber, which meant beaver. In the Middle Ages, anthropomorphic ideas, which attributed human qualities and form to gods or animals were popular. These associations were reflected in folk tales, mythology, and legends that portrayed animals behaving as humans. Biber is also a local type of surname and there are numerous places named Bieber and Bieberach in several localities in Germany.

Early Origins of the Biber family

The surname Biber was first found in Bavaria, where the name Bieber was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society of early European history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Biber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Biber research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1644, 1681, 1704, 1714 and 1824 are included under the topic Early Biber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Biber Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Biber include Bieber, Biber, Bieben, Biebel, Biebele, Bieble, Biebber, Biebben, Biebbel, Biebele, Biebble, Beiber, Beiben, Beibel, Beibele, Beible, Beibber, Beibben, Beibbel, Beibbele, Beibble, Byber, Byben, Bybel, Bybele, Byble, Bybber, Bybben, Bybbel, Bybbele, Bybble, Beyber, Beyben, Beybel, Beybele, Beyble, Beybber, Beybben, Beybbel, Beybbele, Beybble and many more.

Early Notables of the Biber family

Prominent among members of the name Biber in this period include

Heinrich Johann Franz von Biber (1644-1704), a German violinist and composer, who served for many years as the musical conductor at Salzburg...

Biber migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Bibers to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Biber Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Maria Elisabetha Biber, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1731 1
Johannes Biber, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 1

Biber Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Joh. Biber, aged 30, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Sarah Ann"

Contemporary Notables of the name Biber (post 1700) +

Everett J. Van Biber, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Andover, Kansas, 1921-44 2
George Edward Biber (1801-1874), German miscellaneous writer, born 4 Sept. 1801, at Ludwigsburg, Würtemberg 3
Ms. Taube Biber B.E.M., British Holocaust survivor, was appointed Medallist of the British Empire Medal 29th December 2018 for services to Holocaust Education 4

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 June. 2019
"Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists