Ghelber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany

Etymology of Ghelber

The Ghelber family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules, and names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Ghelber is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Ghelber was given to someone who lived in Bavaria. Since medieval times the name Ghelber came from humble beginnings and gained a significant reputation for its contribution to the region's feudal society.

Early Origins of the Ghelber family

Early History of the Ghelber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ghelber research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1817 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Ghelber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ghelber Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Ghelber include Gelb, Gelber, Ghelb, Ghelber, Gelbe, Ghelbe, Gelben, Gelbere, Gelbel, Gelble, Ghelben, Ghelbere, Ghelbel, Ghelble and many more.

Early Notables of the Ghelber family

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

Migration of the Ghelber family

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Friedrich Gelbert, who came to Philadelphia in 1764; Felix Gelbert, age 22; came to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1846; D. Gelb arrived in Allegheny County, Pa. in 1876.