Tolbert
A surname that most likely began as a medieval personal name, later fixed as a family name.
The #1,464 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 12,666 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Tolbert is generally understood as an Anglicized surname from a Germanic personal name, likely related to forms built from elements meaning "people" or "folk" plus "bright" or "famous." In English-speaking usage, it may also reflect a surname formed from a given name rather than from a place or occupation. Because early spellings vary a lot, the exact original name is not certain.
History
The surname is found in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where it became established through ordinary family transmission rather than any single famous origin point. In some cases it may also overlap with similar-sounding surnames of continental Germanic origin. Modern bearers are especially common in the U.S. South, though the name is not confined there.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Tolbert and Talbert are often close enough in older records that they can be hard to separate without supporting documents.
Notable people named Tolbert
- William Tolbert (1913–1980)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.