Show ContentsObert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Obert is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the baptismal name Hubert. 1 As the naming tradition grew in Europe baptismal names began to be introduced in many countries. Baptismal names were sometimes given in honour of Christian saints and other biblical figures. There are very few Christian countries in Europe that did not adopt surnames from these religious figures.

However, another source claims the name could have been a nickname "from the small Falcon or Hawk so called (Old French hobert, a hobby, hawk)." 2

Early Origins of the Obert family

The surname Obert was first found in Norfolk as "Hubbard is a characteristic Norfolk name. The early form of the name in this and the neighbouring counties, both in Domesday times and in the centuries immediately following, was Hubert, occasionally written Huberd; and we find that Robert Hubert or Hoberd was rector of Seaming at the close of the 14th century." 3

Over in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Petrus Hubard; Alicia Hubard; Isabella Hoberd; and William Hoberd as all residing there at that time.

"The Visitation of Essex (1541) gives the surname of the family of Huberd indiscriminately as Huberd, Hobert, Hubert, and Hobart. Memorials of a family spelt indifferently Hubbard or Hobart are (or were) to be found in Little Plumstead Church, Norfolk." 1

Some of the family did migrate to Scotland, but much later on and in small numbers: "Patrick Hobart, was burgess of Dundee in 1649." 4

Early History of the Obert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Obert research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1190, 1507, 1560, 1588, 1593, 1611, 1621, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1628, 1632, 1647, 1654, 1656, 1657, 1667, 1683, 1695, 1699, 1746, 1756 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Obert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Obert Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Obert have been found, including Hobart, Habart, Habbard, Hobert and others.

Early Notables of the Obert family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir James Hobart (d. 1507) of Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, Attorney General during the reign of King Henry VII. , He was the youngest son of Thomas Hobart of Leyham in Norfolk. 5 Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet SL (c. 1560-1625), of Blickling Hall, an English judge and politician. He was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, from a family long settled in Norfolk and Suffolk, was great-grandson of Sir James Hobart. [q. v.]. He was the son of Thomas Hobart of Plumstead, Norfolk. 5 He would establish the first of the two baronetcies for the Hobart...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Obert Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Obert Ranking

In France, the name Obert is the 3,722nd most popular surname with an estimated 1,500 - 2,000 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Obert family to Ireland

Some of the Obert family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 34 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Obert migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Obert, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

Obert Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Bartram Obert, who arrived in Maryland in 1646 7
Obert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Obert, who arrived in New Jersey in 1770 7
  • Peter Obert, who landed in New Jersey in 1770 7
Obert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francis Obert, aged 27, who landed in Missouri in 1844 7
  • Mr. Jacob Obert, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1847 aboard the ship "St. Pauli"

Contemporary Notables of the name Obert (post 1700) +

  • Alex Obert (b. 1991), American silver medalist water polo player at the 2016 FINA World League
  • Oscar Obert (b. 1931), American one, three, and four wall National Handball Champion
  • Michael Obert (b. 1966), award-winning German book author and journalist
  • Jozef Obert (b. 1938), nicknamed Joschi, Slovak former football striker and later coach of the Czechoslovakia National team in 1958
  • Igor Obert (b. 1982), Slovak football defender
  • Marc Antoine Marie Obert, French Divisional General during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1789 to 1815 8
  • Jozef Obert (b. 1938), Czechoslovakia former football striker and later coach
  • Viscount Alain Obert de Thieusies, Great Officer of the Crown, Great Cross of the Order of Léopold II, Commander of the Legion of Honour, Doctor of Law, Belgium


The Obert Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Auctor pretiosa facit
Motto Translation: The Giver makes them valuable.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  6. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  7. 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)
  8. Generals Who Served in the French Army during the Period 1789-1815. (Retrieved 2015, June 16) Marc Obert. Retrieved from http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/c_frenchgenerals.html


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