Surname Draber - Meaning and Origin
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Draber: What does the surname Draber mean?
The last name Draber is a German surname and is thought to have originated in the region of Burgundy, France. The Draber name stems from the Middle High German word ‘draper’, which means cloth merchant or tailor. It is most likely that the family of Drabers originated in the cloth trade, as historically the practice of a hereditary surname derived from a trade or profession was common in Europe.
Draber is a less common family name and is found mainly in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. However, it does appear to have spread to other parts of the world, with families having settled in the United States, Canada, and South America.
The Draber family name is likely to have been used as a nickname for one of the cloth dealing merchants within an individual family. Consequently, the name was passed on from generation to generation and identified family members as part of a certain clan rather than individuals who shared the same Christian name.
It is interesting to note that the Draber name is construed as an occupational surname, as it identifies the family as a traditional and successful family in the trade. As such, it is likely that their forebears were respected members of the community. It is a reminder that families can have deep and rich histories which can be uncovered by investigating their origin and finding out about their past.
Order DNA origin analysisDraber: Where does the name Draber come from?
The surname Draber is most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Austria and Germany, as well as neighboring areas such as Poland and the Czech Republic. The name is also seen in regions of Slovenian-speaking Europeans.
Today, the surname Draber is most highly concentrated in central Austria, in the lower-central region of the country. It is also quite common in Bavaria, a state located in South Central Germany and the home state of many German-speaking Europeans.
The surname is also recorded in the adjacent countries of Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as further west in Slovakia, Hungary, and France. Additionally, a small but consistent population of those bearing the name can be seen in the United States, with the highest concentration of Drabers residing in New Jersey.
The name is possibly derived from given names such as Dragomir, the Slavic form of whose meaning is “loved one.” In older records, the name Draber could also have been used as an occupational surname which derived from the German word “draben” or “dräben,” which was used to refer to someone who did hard labor in a field.
Variations of the surname Draber
Draber is a surname of Slavic origin, derived from the word 'draviti', which is an old Slavic verb meaning 'to run'. This surname is most commonly found in areas with a long history of Slavic culture and influence, such as the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In Czech, Draber is spelt 'Draibsta' and 'Draibek', and in Slovak 'Drajber'.
The surnames derived from Draber are often variations of the original spelling and pronunciation. In German, it is spelt 'Draber', 'Draiber', and 'Draaijer', and in Polish 'Drajber' and 'Draiobry'. There are also other versions of the name such as 'Draiver' and 'Dravor'.
In the United States, Draber has been Americanized to 'Draper', while in Ireland, the spelling often changes to 'Drummond'. In Scotland, variants such as 'Drabar', 'Drabble' and 'Draper' can be found. There are also several versions of the name with a prefix such as 'von Draber', 'van Draber' and 'de Draber'.
Overall, Draber is a diverse surname with many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. This reflects the long Slavic history associated with that name, and its presence in many different countries around the world.
Famous people with the name Draber
- Jeffrey Draber: an American lawyer
- Vivian Draber: a former American figure skater
- Jay Draber: an American basketball coach and mentor
- Steve Draber: an American businessman
- Eric Draber: an American microbiologist
- Stephen Draber: a former American pediatrician
- Steven Draber: a former professional volleyball player
- Barry Draber: an American diplomat
- Gordon Draber: an American child psychiatrist
- Akiva Draber: an Israeli soccer coach