Elbert
A surname most likely derived from the personal name Albert, especially in Flemish and German usage.
The #9,716 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 92,466 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is usually explained as a reduced or altered form of Albert, a Germanic personal name built from elements meaning “noble” and “bright” or “famous.” In some records, Elbert appears as a variant spelling or regional form rather than a completely separate source name. The excerpts also point to a Flemish/German connection, which fits this kind of personal-name surname.
History
The surname appears in northern European naming traditions, especially where given names became hereditary family names. In English-speaking countries it is relatively uncommon, but it has been present in the United States for generations. Because the historical sources here only mention it incidentally, the exact pathway of surname formation is not fully certain.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some older surname dictionaries treated Elbert simply as a local or Flemish form of Albert rather than as an independent surname.
From the historical record
“Eddille Elbert Eddulf Eldeid”
— British Family Names: their origin and meaning (2nd ed.)