Show ContentsSeiber History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Seiber

What does the name Seiber mean?

The German state of Prussia, which reached the zenith of its power in the late 19th century, is the glorious birthplace of the distinguished surname Seiber. In the medieval era, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the German lands were inhabited by a variety of Barbarian tribes. The borders of the Barbarian kingdoms changed frequently, but the region that became known in Prussia was roughly divided between the areas of Brandenburg-Prussia, West Prussia, and East Prussia. The colorful history of Brandenburg-Prussia, which is essentially the birthplace of modern Germany, provides a glimpse at the oldest origins of the Seiber family.

Early Origins of the Seiber family

The surname Seiber was first found in the northern regions, where the name emerged in mediaeval times as one of the notable families of the area. Chronicles trace the name back to Sybrecht in the early Middle Ages, when it was also found in its Latin form Sybertus. Both forms appear in Breslau chronicles of 1320. Another possible origin is "Sigbert." From the 13th century the surname was identified with the great social and economic evolution which made this territory an important contributor to the development of the nation.

Early History of the Seiber family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Seiber research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1661 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Seiber History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Seiber Spelling Variations

One can encounter great variation in the spelling of surnames: in early times, spelling in general, and thus the spelling of names was not yet standardized; and later, spellings would change with branching and movement of families. Variations of the name Seiber include Seibert, Seibrecht, Seybert, Sybert, Seiberth, Sybrecht and many more.

Early Notables of the Seiber family

Another 30 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Seiber Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Seiber Ranking

In the United States, the name Seiber is the 7,645th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Seiber migration to the United States +

Much of German history has been shaped by the state of Prussia. It was an enduring military power until after the Second World War. At that time, the state was abolished altogether and its land divided between the Soviet Union, Poland, East Germany and West Germany. While some Prussians were content to remain in those countries, others moved away, many of them migrating to North America. They entered the United States mostly through Philadelphia, moving on to Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, and Maryland. Others went to Canada, settling on the prairies and in the province of Ontario. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Seiber Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Georg, II Seiber, who landed in America in 1831 2


Suggested Readings for the name Seiber +

  • Lest We Forget: John Clark of Wythe County, Virginia by Ella Rae Wilson.

  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)


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