Gebhart
A German surname from a personal name meaning roughly “generous” or “liberal” plus “strong/hardy.”
The #9,638 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 91,698 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Gebhart is a German surname built on an old personal name, usually analyzed as Gebahard or a related form. The first element is commonly taken to mean “give” or “generous,” and the second to mean “hardy,” “brave,” or “strong.” In older surname dictionaries it is glossed in the sense of “generous nature” or “liberal.”
History
The name belongs to the broad family of German surnames formed from medieval given names. Historical sources show spellings such as Gebhart and Gebhardt, and related forms were already established by the Middle Ages. In North America it often appears among German-American families, sometimes simplified in spelling.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
19th-century surname writers sometimes grouped Gebhart with other surnames meaning “liberal,” showing how moral qualities were often used as shorthand etymologies for older German names.
From the historical record
“GATTA, deUa (Jt.), of the Cat. GEBHART (®.), Generous nature, Liberal, {v. Giffard.) GEDULT (CD. and ®.), Patience, (v. Gnaden and Treurniet.) GEELE (W.), Yellow. Geelhand, Yellow hand. Geelhoed, Yellow hat. Geelhuyzen, Yellow houses. Geelkerken, van, of Yellow churches. GELTSAK (H.), Money-hag. {v. de la Bourse.) 29”
— Surnames