Leiber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The German surname Leiber emerged in the lands that form the modern state of Lower Saxony, which is presently bordered by the North Sea, the Hartz mountains and the Elbe and Ems rivers. Lower Saxony was previously a medieval dukedom. In the Middle Ages, many of the Saxon lands were a part of the Holy Roman Empire, which was characterized by the Feudal System. Before this era, people were known only by a single name. However, as the population increased and travelers set out on their journeys, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves. Many people, such as the Leiber family, adopted the name of their feudal occupation as their surname. However, an occupational name did not become a hereditary surname until the office or type of employment became hereditary. The surname Leiber was an occupational name for a baker. The root of this distinguished surname is the word laib, which in the Middle Ages referred to a baker.

Early Origins of the Leiber family

The surname Leiber was first found in Brunswick, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would become prominent throughout European history. Chronicles first mention Hans Laybel in Nickolsberg in 1414, and Peter Loeublin of Reutlingen in 1390.

Early History of the Leiber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Leiber research. Another 162 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1646, 1711, 1716, 1844 and 1900 are included under the topic Early Leiber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leiber Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Leib, Leibe, Leibner, Leiber, Leibnitz, Leipnitz, Leibler, Leible, Leibl, Leiblin, Leibesman, Leiblein, Laib, Laible and many more.

Early Notables of the Leiber family

Notables of the time included Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716), a philosopher, mathematician, and polymath, who entered the service of the Electoral Archbishop of Mainz. He was one of the most important thinkers...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Leiber Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Leiber migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Leiber Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Leiber, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Leiber (post 1700) +

Judith Leiber (1921-2018), née Peto, an American fashion designer and businesswoman
Jerry Leiber (1933-2011), American lyricist, who co-wrote such pop hits as "Hound Dog"

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)