Surname Theobald - Meaning and Origin

A Journey into My Lineage: Theobald Surname Cascading Through the Pages of History

My iGENEA DNA test results revealed captivating details pertaining to my cultural heritage and brought to light the deep-rooted history associated with my family's surname, Theobald. Originating from Northern Europe, moving south during upheavals and linked predominantly to the R1b haplogroup, the test offered a fascinating glimpse into my ancestry.

J. Theobald

Theobald: What does the surname Theobald mean?

The last name Theobald is of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin. It derives from the Old German personal name "Theobald", composed of the elements "theudo", meaning people or race, and "bald", meaning bold or brave. Therefore, the overall meaning is "bold or brave among the people". The name was introduced to England by the Normans during and after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was a fairly popular personal name in the medieval period and subsequently turned into a surname as the usage of surnames became more common. Variations of the surname Theobald can include Tippett, Theobold, Diebold, and Tybalt among others.

Theobald: Where does the name Theobald come from?

The last name Theobald is most commonly found in Germany, particularly in Bavaria where it may have originated centuries ago. It is also found in Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is a fairly uncommon last name, making up just 0.007% of the population of Germany in 2016.

In the United States, Theobald is the 3,787th most popular name and is found almost entirely in the states of Pennsylvania and Delaware. It is found most in Pennsylvania, where it is the 848th most popular name, making up 0.0014% of the population. As of 2019, the earliest immigrant ancestor to settle in the United States with the Theobald surname was Michael Theobald, who arrived in the late 18th century.

In the United Kingdom, Theobald is a much more common name than in the United States and is the 471st most popular last name. It makes up 0.0024% of the population, and is most commonly found in cities in the southern part of England such as Essex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Kent.

In Australia, Theobald is a relatively uncommon surname, making up just 0.0017% of the population. It is most commonly found in Victoria and New South Wales, and is often found amongst those of German heritage.

In Canada, Theobald is a fairly uncommon last name, making up 0.0005% of the population. It is found mostly in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, with smaller numbers found in British Columbia and Alberta.

Overall, the last name Theobald is most common in Germany, with smaller numbers found throughout Europe and North America.

Variations of the surname Theobald

The surname Theobald originates from an old Germanic personal name composed of the elements “theudo” (which means “people”) and “bald” (which means “bold”). It’s also speculated to have roots in Celtic origin, coming from the personal name Teòbag.

The variants and alternate spellings of Theobald include:

• Teobald

• Teobaldino

• Teobaldo

• Teobaldus

• Thaibaud

• Thibaut

• Thibault

• Thibold

• Tibout

• Tibold

• Tiboldt

• Tiboult

• Thebault

• Thebold

• Theobald

The surnames of the same origin as Theobald are:

• Tebaldo

• Dentibold

• Thibaudin

• Thibodeau

• Thibideau

• Thebault

• Thibodeaux

• Thibaut

• Tibaud

• Tabot

• Tupet

• Thibodaux

Famous people with the name Theobald

• Martin Theobald: Martin Theobald is a German figure skater who competed in the men’s singles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
• John Theobald: John Theobald is an English rugby league player who currently plays for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League.
• Adele Theobald: Adele Theobald is an English actress who has appeared in several West End plays, as well as the popular British television show, Home Fires.
• Paul Theobald: Paul Theobald is an American historian and professor emeritus of history at Ohio State University. He is well known for his studies of early American history.
• Christine Theobald: Christine Theobald is an Austrian figure skater who won the Austrian national championship in 1998 and 2002.
• Raymond Theobald: Raymond Theobald is a French film director and screenwriter who is best known for his 1975 film “Les Argonautes”, for which he won the César Award for Best Director.
• Frank Theobald: Frank Theobald is a German singer and composer known for his work in the a cappella group Overhead.
• Leon Theobald: Leon Theobald is a British barrister and legal scholar who was an Honorary Queen’s Counsel from 1996 to 1999.
• David Theobald: David Theobald is an Australian author and geographer who is a professor at the University of Tasmania.
• Matthew Theobald: Matthew Theobald is a New Zealand cricketer who currently plays for the Northern Districts cricket team.

Other surnames

TheobaldtTheobaldyTheobalt