Show ContentsElbert History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Elbert is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was a name for someone who was a person who is noble or bright. The surname Elbert is derived from the Saxon personal name Aethel-berht. According to ancient Anglo-Saxon history Aethelbert who was the King of Kent from 860 to 866 AD, had bloodties to the Saxon invaders of the 4th century.

Early Origins of the Elbert family

The surname Elbert was first found in Kent where they held a family seat from very ancient times. The name is descended from the Saxon Aethel-berht meaning "the noble and brilliant one." Aethelbert was the King of Kent in England from 860 to 866 A.D. and was descended from the original Saxon invaders in the 4th century.

Early History of the Elbert family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elbert research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1200 and 1281 are included under the topic Early Elbert History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elbert Spelling Variations

Elbert has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Elbert have been found, including Albertson, Albert, Alberton, Alberts and others.

Early Notables of the Elbert family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Elbert Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elbert Ranking

In the United States, the name Elbert is the 9,579th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]


United States Elbert migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Elberts to arrive on North American shores:

Elbert Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Elbert, who arrived in Georgia in 1738 [2]
Elbert Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Aug Elbert, who arrived in Galveston, Tex in 1846 [2]
  • Jos Elbert, who arrived in America in 1849 [2]
  • Joseph Elbert, who landed in Texas in 1851 [2]
  • Bernhart Elbert, who landed in Indiana in 1852 [2]
  • Anne Marie Philippine Elbert, who landed in America in 1854 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Elbert migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Elbert Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Pierre Elbert, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 1st April 1665 [3]

Contemporary Notables of the name Elbert (post 1700) +

  • Lieutenant General James Elbert Briggs (1906-1979), United States Air Force general, 2nd Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy
  • Joseph Elbert Stringfellow (1918-1992), American NFL football tailback for the Detroit Lions in 1942
  • Charles Elbert Rich, American politician, Member of Georgia State House of Representatives from Union County, 1941-42
  • Charles Elbert Whelan (1862-1928), American politician, Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, 1898-99 [4]
  • Brigadier-General Albert Elbert Colburn (b. 1895), American Commanding Officer 40th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, Australia (1942-1945) [5]
  • Hermann Elbert Kreider, prominent chemist
  • Joseph Elbert Cheeley, prominent American judge
  • Glen Elbert Wimmer (b. 1903), American mechanical engineer and management consultant
  • Simon Elbert Boozer (1895-1975), American Democratic Party politician, Calhoun County Probate Judge, 1940-46 ; Candidate in primary for Governor of Alabama, 1946
  • Frank Elbert Timmerman (b. 1900), American politician, Member of South Carolina State Senate from Edgefield County, 1957-64 [6]


  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. Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, April 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Albert Colburn. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Colburn/Albert_Elbert/USA.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook