Surname Rubert - Meaning and Origin

Rubert: What does the surname Rubert mean?

The surname Rubert is a Germanic name derived from the root ruod (famous or renown) and the suffix -bert (illustrious, or bright). This indicates that the original bearers of the Rubert name were likely very well-known in their local communities and honored for their personal and professional achievements.

Throughout the centuries, Ruberts have been found in many places across Germany, including Bavarian locations near Munich and Dresden. The name has even been documented in America, with large populations of Ruberts appearing in towns such as New Rochelle in New York and, later, in Pennsylvania.

The name also has a regal association. The Burgrave ( Subprefect) Ruberti family were elevated to the upper social class during the Middle Ages and have descendants who still bear the surname today, in different regions of eastern Europe.

The Rubert name carries a certain aura of historical prestige, which is likely to have originated from its first bearers. They were renowned for their talents and achievements, both socially and professionally, and their legacy of distinction lives on throughout Germany, as well as throughout many parts of the world.

Rubert: Where does the name Rubert come from?

The last name Rubert is most commonly found in French-speaking countries, such as France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Canada. In France, it is especially prevalent in the province of Alsace-Lorraine. It is also found in countries such as Germany, Hungary, Spain, and the United States.

In France, the last name Rubert is of Germanic origin derived from the word "rood" which means "red." It has been traced back to the duchy of Lorraine when it was under German rule during the 17th century. It is also sometimes associated with a nickname origin, as it could be a derivative of the word "Rubertus," which means "bright" or "shining" in Latin.

In the United States, Rubert is not quite as common as it is in Europe but still has roots in various parts of the country. In New York, numerous instances of the Rubert surname can be found in the city's historical records. In California, descendants of the early settlers who arrived from Central America retained the Rubert surname. Today, Rubert is especially common in Texas, although rare elsewhere.

Overall, though, the last name Rubert is not extremely widespread and is most concentrated in French-speaking areas of the world.

Variations of the surname Rubert

Rubert is a surname of German origin derived from the Old Germanic personal name Hrodberht, meaning “bright fame”. This surname is still prevalent in Germany, with variants including Rubbert, Ruprecht, Rupprecht, Rubbrecht, Rubberecht, Reubart, Reichbart, Reubard, and Roobart. During the 19th century, many Germans emigrated to other countries, taking the name Rubert with them. As a result, the name can be found in the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other countries, sometimes without any spelling variation.

Surnames can also be derived from the spousal name of someone with the last name Rubert. In the case of a woman whose last name is Rubert, her married name could be Rubbert-Jones, Rubbert-Smith, Rubbert-Peters, etc. However, these are not technically Rubert variants, they simply designate that the woman is married.

Variations of the French spelling of Rubert include Rubbert, Reubart, Reubard, Robberecht, Rubbrecht and Rubberecht. These spellings are more common among those with French ancestry.

Variations of the Dutch spelling of Rubert include Rubbert, Roobart, Rubbrecht, Rubbrecht and Rubberecht. These spellings are more common among those with Dutch ancestry.

In some cases, the surname can become Anglicanized, resulting in spellings like Rebert, Reibert, Reubart, or Roubart. This happens when the spelling of the name is adopted to better suit the pronunciation of English speakers.

Finally, the surname can also appear with a variety of spellings in south-eastern and Eastern European countries. Variations include Roobart, Rupbert, Rubbrech, Rubrek, Rubek, and Rubrik. These spellings are more common among those with Hungarian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Czech, Slovak, Polish and Slovenian ancestry.

Famous people with the name Rubert

• Paul Rupert: Paul Rupert is an American classical guitarist and composer who has achieved national recognition, particularly in Kansas.
• William Rupert: William Rupert is best known for his work as a landscape painting artist, working primarily in oils and pastels.
• Matthew Rupert: Matthew Rupert is a Canadian former competitive figure skater. He is the 2000 Four Continents bronze medalist and two-time Canadian national bronze medalist.
• Rupert Penry-Jones: Rupert Penry-Jones is an English actor who is best known for his roles in the television series Spooks and Whitechapel.
• Catarina Rubert: Catarina Rubert is a Swedish skier who came to prominence in 2007. She won the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup in the Downhill discipline.
• Anne Rubert: Anne Rubert is a Swedish cross-country skier who competed in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
• Stephen Rupert: Stephen Rupert is an American music producer, songwriter, recording, and mixing engineer based in Los Angeles, California.
• Sibylle Rubert-Bach: Sibylle Rubert-Bach is a German diver who won the gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics in the 10-meter platform event.
• Michael Rubert-Brenner: Michael Rubert-Brenner is a German film director and screenwriter. He is best known for the 2013 film Thalheim.
• Rupert Raybould: Rupert Raybould is a British actor who played Iago in the award-winning theater production of Othello.

Other surnames

RüberRubermanRuberryRubersRubertonRubertoneRubertsRubertusRübertusRubery