Surname Elbing - Meaning and Origin

Elbing: What does the surname Elbing mean?

The surname Elbing is of German origin and traditionally refers to those from Elbing, a city in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland. It is believed that the name is derived from the word “Elbi” meaning “shelter” or “fortified place”, and so Elbing could be interpreted as “from the sheltered place”.

The place name Elbing has ancient roots in the region and is recorded as far back as 1238 when it was mentioned in the schedule of borders of the Order of Teutonic Knights. The surname Elbing then first began to be used as hereditary last names in the 15th century.

The family name Elbing has long been present in Germany, particularly in Berlin and the surrounding region of Brandenburg, and even further east in some of the former eastern provinces of Germany. This is likely due to the eastern Pomeranian region having been a part of the German Empire from 1648 to 1871 and Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. Some families with the Elbing surname have become more dispersed throughout German-speaking Europe in recent centuries as a result of migration.

The Elbing surname can be seen in other countries around the world today as well, due to emigration from Germany. It is also quite common as a surname in the United States, Canada, and Australia, where many people of German descent have settled in the past few centuries.

Elbing: Where does the name Elbing come from?

The last name Elbing can be found around the world, though it is most common in the countries of Germany, Australia, the United States, and Canada.

Elbing is an uncommon German-identified surname, traditionally concentrated in Germany's western regions. The origin of the name is linked to Elbin, an area around present-day Greifswald, in the north-eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It was established as a settlement during the medieval period.

Elbing appeared as a surname in the United States and Canada during the 19th century as many German-born immigrants made their way across the Atlantic. German immigration to North America occurred in two main stages: the early 19th century and the mid-19th century. The earliest records of the Elbing surname in the US can be traced back to the period between 1845 and 1880.

The Elbing name can also be found in Australia, a result of German immigrants arriving there during the 19th and 20th centuries. Australia's national immigration archives show a number of Elbings coming to this southern nation in the late 19th century.

Today, the Elbing surname is widely spread throughout the world, due to immigration and dispersal throughout the countries. Those with the Elbing surname can be said to form a global community, united by a common ancestry.

Variations of the surname Elbing

The surname Elbing is of German origin and has a number of variant spellings and surnames of a similar origin. The most common variants are Elbinger, Elbinger, Elbingen, Elbenberg, and Elbinghausen. Elbing can also be spelled as Elben, Elven, Elbon, Elbond, Ellbom, Elbomen, Elbown, Ellbone, Ellbond, Ellbown, Elbbone, Elbbond, and Ellbom.

The surname Elbing is derived from several German placenames. Examples include Elvenbreite, Elbingen, Elbin, Ellbing, Elbinger, Ellbinger, and Elbingerhof. The place-name Elvenbreite is derived from the old German word “elb” which meant elm tree. Similarly, Elbingen is possibly derived from the old German word “elb” which meant a theirs, referring to the settlement of a tribe living in the area. Other placenames of similar origin include Elbenberg, Elbinghausen, and Elbin.

Alternative surnames with the same origin include Elbs, Ellber, Ellberg, Ellbing, Ellbin, Ellborn, Ellbur, Ebelen, Ellburg, Elburg, Elbinger, Ellbom, Ellbond, Ellbone, Elbom, Elborn, Elborman, Elbown, and Ellbower. Other variants of Elbing are Ellbig, Elvig, and Ellbicke.

In some cases, an -er suffix is added to the surnames indicated that the individual came from the place mentioned. For instance, Elbinger means someone from the town of Elbingen. Similarly, the suffix -hausen may be used to indicate someone who originates from a particular area, such as Elbinghausen or Ellbomhausen.

Finally, Elbing is also found as a Hungarian surname, derived from the Hungarian phrase “elbizantse” meaning a person of Byzantine descent.

Famous people with the name Elbing

• Fredrik Elbing: a Norwegian handball player who competed for the Norwegian national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Jesse Elbing: a former American football cornerback who played for the San Francisco 49ers from 2006–2008.
• Inge Elbing: a German operatic mezzo-soprano and actress.
• Tom Elbing: an American professional baseball catcher in the Washington Nationals organization.
• Lyle Elbing: a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1948–1954 for the Chicago White Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers.
• Barbara Elbing: a Swiss swimmer who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics.
• Andreas Elbing: a German politician who was a member of the Alliance 90/The Greens party.
• Willy Elbing: an artist noted for his poster art.
• Hans-Ullrich Elbing: a German lawyer and professor of public law at the Technische Universität Darmstadt.
• Martin Elbing: a German theologian and university lecturer.

Other surnames

Elbin