Gerbe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Germany

Etymology of Gerbe

The surname Gerbe is occupational in nature. Occupational names were derived from the common trades of the medieval era and transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries. This phenomenon is demonstrated by names such as the German name Schumaker, which means a maker of shoes, the Ashkenazic Jewish name Zimmerman, which means carpenter, and the Polish and Jewish name Stolarski, which means joiner. Similarly, surnames of office, which include military, judicial, papal and other positions of authority, are widespread throughout Europe. Those who were involved in the military, or feudal armies, were given names such as the English Archer and the French Chevalier. Names that were derived from judicial and papal titles, such as Bailiffe, Squire and Abbott, are commonly seen with the same surname spelling today. The name Gerbe is derived from the Old German word "ledargarawo," meaning "leather preparer" which later became "gerwer" and "gerber." Accordingly, the original bearer of this name held the trade of a leather tanner.

Early Origins of the Gerbe family

Early History of the Gerbe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gerbe research. Another 112 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1591, 1667, 1702, 1728, 1731, 1746, 1749, 1775, 1790, 1818, 1823 and 1891 are included under the topic Early Gerbe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gerbe Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gerbe, Gherber, Gherbe, Gurber, Gurbe, Ghurber and many more.

Early Notables of the Gerbe family

Notables of the period with the surname Gerbe were

• Heinrich Nicolaus Gerber, born 1702 in the principality of Schwarzburg; son of a peasant, studied at the University of Leipzig, where his love of music found encouragement in the teaching and conversa...
• Ernst Ludwig Gerber (b.1746), was a court organist and wrote "Das Tonkuenstlerlexikon" ("The Who is Who of Composers"). Karl Friedrich von Gerber (1823-1891) was a prominent German lawyer and statesma...

Migration of the Gerbe family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Hans Jacob Gerber, one of many of this surname who came to Philadelphia, who arrived in 1733; H.A. Gerber arrived in Texas in 1854.