Show ContentsHildebrand History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The distinguished German surname Hildebrand is derived from the German personal name "Hildebrand," which is composed of two elements: "hild," derived from the Old High German "hilja," meaning "fight" or "battle," and "brand," derived from the Old High German "brant," meaning "fire" or "sword."

Early Origins of the Hildebrand family

The surname Hildebrand was first found in Prussia, where the name emerged in medieval times as one of the notable families of the region. From the 13th century, the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory a landmark contributor to the development of the nation. The Hildebrand family was also seated at Ruckhofen in the Ratisbonne.

Early History of the Hildebrand family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hildebrand research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1614, 1668, 1684, 1745 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Hildebrand History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hildebrand Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hidlebrand, Hildebrandt, Hildeprand, Hildeprandt, Hiltebrande, Hiltebrand, Hillenbrand and many more.

Early Notables of the Hildebrand family

Notable figures of the time with the name Hildebrand were

  • Johann Hildebrand, also Hildebrandt (1614-1684), a German composer, organist, and poet

Hildebrand Ranking

In the United States, the name Hildebrand is the 3,446th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 1


United States Hildebrand migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hildebrand Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anna Catharina Hildebrand, who arrived in New York, NY in 1710 2
  • Johann Jacob Hildebrand, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734 2
  • Nicolas Hildebrand, who landed in Frederick County, Maryland in 1734 2
  • Johannes Hildebrand, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1751 2
  • Joh Jacob Hildebrand, who landed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1753 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hildebrand Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Ann Maria Hildebrand, who settled in Baltimore in 1831
  • Christoph Hildebrand, aged 23, who arrived in New York, NY in 1832 2
  • Heinrich Hildebrand, who arrived in America in 1832 2
  • Xaver Theobald Hildebrand, who landed in America in 1837 2
  • William Hildebrand, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1842 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hildebrand migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hildebrand Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Peter Hildebrand, who arrived in Manitoba in 1874
  • Henry Hildebrand, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
  • Jacob Hildebrand, who arrived in Manitoba in 1875
  • Bernhard Hildebrand, who arrived in Manitoba in 1878
  • Isaac Hildebrand, who landed in Manitoba in 1878

New Zealand Hildebrand migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hildebrand Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Hildebrand, who landed in Wairarapa, New Zealand in 1840

Contemporary Notables of the name Hildebrand (post 1700) +

  • Ray Hildebrand (1940-2023), American singer, born in Joshua, Texas, one-half of the American pop singing duo, Paul & Paula, best known for their 1963 million-selling, number-one hit record, "Hey Paula"
  • Palmer Marion Hildebrand (1884-1960), Major League Baseball catcher
  • Joel Henry Hildebrand (1881-1983), American educator and a pioneer chemist
  • George Albert Hildebrand (1878-1960), American left fielder and umpire in Major League Baseball
  • Brian Curtis Hildebrand (1962-1999), American professional wrestling manager, wrestler and referee
  • Oral Clyde Hildebrand (1907-1977), American pitcher in Major League Baseball
  • John R. Hildebrand Jr. (b. 1988), American race car driver
  • Kathy S. Hildebrand, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Georgia, 2012 3
  • Jacob F. Hildebrand, American Republican politician, Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives from Littleton; Elected 1938 3
  • George Hildebrand, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1916 3
  • ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Bismarck
  • Johann Hildebrand (1922-1941), German Matrose II who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 4


Suggested Readings for the name Hildebrand +

  • Farber and Allied Families of Burkhart, Hildebrand, and Albaugh by Richard Howard Dodge.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details


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