Surname Gisbers - Meaning and Origin

Gisbers: What does the surname Gisbers mean?

The last name Gisbers is a Dutch name and is recorded in the variations of Gysberts and Gisbertz. The name is an occupational name of a farm bailiff or a steward. It is derived from the old Germanic word ‘gisil’, meaning ‘hostage’, and ‘berth’, meaning ‘bright’. The word 'gisil' has been used to denote responsibility, someone who is in charge of protecting, managing, and controlling the assets of a lord’s estate or manor.

Gisbers is a surname most commonly found in the German-speaking countries of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. It is also associated in Germany with the medieval surname Gise, Gisse, and Gilse, as well as the English surname Gisborne. In the Netherlands, a large part of the Gisbers population is considered to possess Jewish heritage.

Today, Gisbers is more common in the Netherlands, followed by Belgium and Germany. People with this last name are generally characterized by their strong sense of responsibility, conscientiousness, and dedication to the task at hand. They are reliable, disciplined and always take their work seriously. They are known to be natural stewards and often perform their important duties well.

Gisbers: Where does the name Gisbers come from?

The last name Gisbers is most commonly found in the Netherlands today. It is a Dutch family name meaning "son of Gilbert" and suggests ancestry to a man with the name Gilbert.

The earliest records for the last name Gisbers date back to at least the 16th century and suggest that it was already present in the region by that time. From the mid-17th century onward, the Gisbers name is mostly concentrated in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands and its neighboring provinces.

The most common spelling variation of Gisbers is Gijsbers, with other rendered forms or variations including Gisbrechts, Gijsbrechts, Gijsbregts, Gisburgs, Gisberts, Gysbers, Giansberts, Gijburgs, and Gisborchs.

Today, the number of people with the last name Gisbers is relatively small. In 2018, around 467 people had the last name Gisbers, making it a very rare last name.

It is a name that is especially found in the Netherlands, where more people have the last name than anywhere else in the world. Other countries where the name is present include Belgium, France, Germany, and even some parts of the United States and Canada.

Variations of the surname Gisbers

Gisbers is an uncommon Dutch patronymic surname. It is derived from the Dutch given name Gijsber, which in turn is derived from the Low German given name Giselbert, meaning "pledge of might".

Variants, alternate spellings and other surnames of similar origin include Gijsbers, Gysbers, Gysberts, Gisberts, Gysbregts, Gijsbregts, Gijsbrechts, Gijsbertse(n), Gilesberts, and Geesbertse(n).

Gijsber is the oldest form of this surname, and is occasionally found in church records in the Netherlands dating back to the 16th century. The -s suffix was added to the original name around the beginning of the 17th century, forming the modern surname Gisbers.

Gysbers is another variant of this surname that is most commonly found in South Holland province of the Netherlands. In North Holland, on the other hand, Gisberts is more prevalent.

Another variant, Gysbregts, can be found in Belgium, while Gilesberts occurs most often in the English-speaking world. Gijsbregts, Gijsbrechts, Gijsbertse(n) and Geesbertse(n) can still be found in some parts of the Netherlands, especially in the former provinces of Brabant, Flanders and Limburg.

In short, Gisbers is an uncommon Dutch patronymic surname with variant spellings and other surnames of the same origin found throughout the Netherlands and the English-speaking world.

Famous people with the name Gisbers

• Stefan Gisbers: professional Dutch footballer who plays as a full back for VVV-Venlo in the Eredivisie.
• Jeroen Gisbers: Dutch football midfielder who plays for Roda JC Kerkrade in the Eerste Divisie.
• Albert Gisbers: Dutch composer and pianist, writer of numerous works for voice, wind band, and orchestra, conductor and pedagogue.
• Norbert Gisbers: professional Dutch footballer who plays for amateur club Lienden.
• Jos Gisbers: Dutch football midfielder who plays for FC Lienden, the second squad of Lienden.
• John Gisbers: Dutch race car driver who competed in the IndyCar Series from 1998-2000.
• Dick Gisbers: Dutch amateur boxer who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics and was a professional from 1949-1960.
• Jan Gisbers: Dutch poet, author and literary critic whose works include the novel “The Disinherited”.
• Jean-Paul Gisbers: Dutch actor, director and producer, best known for his performances in the Dutch television series “Flodder”.
• Robbert Gisbers: Dutch wheelchair basketball player, three-time Paralympian, gold medalist and member of the Dutch Wheelchair Basketball National Team.

Other surnames

GisbertGisbertz