Surname Luboldt - Meaning and Origin

Luboldt: What does the surname Luboldt mean?

The surname Luboldt is a topographic surname for someone who lived in a clearing by the river. This term, derived from the Middle High German 'lube' and 'alt', is thought to have derived from a Slavic word, 'lobolce', meaning 'clearing'. The name probably came to Germany during the 12th century, during the influx of people with Slavic origins.

The name Luboldt is mainly found in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavian countries. However, it is also found in other parts of Europe, including in Slovakia and Poland.

The name Luboldt was typically given to those newcomers, distinguishing them from the German population. Despite its origin, the name has been adopted and passed down as a German surname for many centuries.

The literal meaning of the name is ‘clearing in the woodlands’. It is believed that those who were given the name lived on clearings beside rivers and forests, and that they likely earned their living by logging or fishing in the nearby area. The name could also be a reference to the people inhabiting the clearing being more open and welcoming than other communities.

The Luboldts are thought to have been a strong and proud family, and those with the surname still exist today. They are proud of the meaning of their name, which symbolizes a long and rich history of overcoming hardship and rising above adversity.

Luboldt: Where does the name Luboldt come from?

The last name Luboldt is most common today in Germany, according to the genealogy website, MyHeritage. The name is of German origin and is comparatively rare, with less than 350 people using it today.

In Germany, Luboldt is primarily found in the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Hesse. Although the origins of the name are unknown, it appears to have developed around the 16th century.

The name is also present in various parts of the United States. According to MyHeritage, the highest concentrations of Luboldt are in Louisiana, Maryland, Texas, and New York. The exact origin of the name’s immigration to the U.S. is unknown, although it is likely that it originated from some of the German settlers in the colonies in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Finally, many individuals bearing the last name Luboldt are found around the world. While Germany and the U.S. are the two countries with the highest Luboldt concentration, Luboldts are present in other countries such as Portugal, Canada, and Australia as well.

Overall, the last name Luboldt is relatively rare, but it is found in several countries around the world, with the highest concentrations located in Germany and the United States.

Variations of the surname Luboldt

The surname Luboldt is variations on German surname Lüboldt. This surname is rooted in the Middle High German word "lubelt" meaning "famous guest". Other variations include Lubold, Lubolde, Luboldt, Lobolt, Lobold, Lobolde, Loboldt, Lebold, Lebolde, Leboldt, Liebold, Liebolde, Lieboldt, and Liobold. In addition, surnames such as Liubolt, Liubold, Liubolde, Liuboldt, Lobodt, Lobolt, Lobeld, Lobelde, and Lobelt may also be derived from this root.

The English spelling of the surname is Luboldt; however, the European spelling of the name is Lüboldt. Alternate spellings include Luebold, Luebolde, Lueboldt, Lübold, Lübolde, Lüboldt, and Lübalt.

The Netherlands is the home to some of the earliest Luboldt ancestral lines. In the Netherlands, the spellings of the surname are Luboudt, Luboude, Luboud, Luboudh, Lubould, and Lubouldt.

In Poland, the surname Luboldt may also be spelled Luboldz, Lubolzd, and Lubolzt.

In the United States, the spellings of the name Luboldt can vary, and may take on the German, Dutch, and Polish versions. In the United States, Americans may refer to Luboldt’s as Liebold, Liebald, and the spelling variants of Liubold.

In France, the surname can take on the form L’Ebold.

In countries such as Scotland, Ireland, and England, the spelling of the surname Luboldt may have been shortened to Bolt, Bold, and Bould.

In all, surnames taking their root from Lubolt/Lubold include the Dutch, German, Polish, French, Scottish, Irish, and English variants of Lubolt, Lieboud, Leboldt, Lobodt, Luboude, Liebold, Luebolte, Lobold, Liubolde, Lobolt, Lübalt, Lüboldt, Luebold, Lubeld, Lueboldt, Lubould, Lubouldt, Libolt, Libolzd, Liboltz, and Bold.

Famous people with the name Luboldt

• Frederick William Luboldt (1867-1925): was a German geographer, cartographer and writer. He wrote several books about German colonies and other topics including geography, literature, philosophy and religion.
• Alexander Cornelius Luboldt (1802-1860): was a German physician, naturalist, pathologist and geographer. He was interested in natural history, botany, anthropology and zoology and was the director of the Collegium Medico-Chirurgicum in Berlin.
• Wolfgang Luboldt (1927-2011): was a German children's author. He wrote over 50 books, mainly novels for young readers, and was honored with the German literature prize for his work.
• Viktor Luboldt (1886-1938): was a German seismologist who contributed to the field of geology. He was the first seismologist in Germany and developed the idea of the isoseismal map, which shows the intensity of earthquakes.
• Helene Luboldt (1898-1980): was a German journalist and political activist. She was one of the most influential women in public life in the Reich and was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
• Gustav Luboldt (1883-1941): was a German politician and a leading member of the centrist German Democratic Party. He was one of the few prominent German politicians to publicly oppose Nazi policies in the 1930s.
• Paul Luboldt (1930–2009): was a German footballer. He made his debut in 1950 for Borussia Dortmund and went on to make nearly 300 appearances for the club.

Other surnames

LuboldLübold