Surname Narbuts - Meaning and Origin
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Narbuts: What does the surname Narbuts mean?
The last name Narbuts is a derivation of the Slavic name Novarbuts which is believed to originate from the old Slavic and Baltic word “narv” meaning “edge, border” or “outlying land, borderland”. This could refer to someone living in a remote place or on the outskirts of a large settlement.
The name has been traditionally used throughout Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus and could have been used to describe families living in the borderlands between those countries in medieval times. It is also found in some areas of Poland and Czech Republic.
The name is found in written records dating back to the late 17th century, which suggests it may have been used even earlier. There were some members of the Narbuts family who served as distinguished officers in the Prussian army in the 1700s and the name can also be found in parts of Austria-Hungary by the 19th century.
Based on its Slavic and Baltic origins it suggests that the people who carried the name Narbuts are likely to have been of East or Central European or Baltic descent. As a name associated with the borderlands of those regions, it implies that the people who share this last name could be a mix of different ethnic backgrounds.
Order DNA origin analysisNarbuts: Where does the name Narbuts come from?
The last name Narbuts is most commonly found in Lithuania, where it is considered the 87th most common surname. There are also a number of ethnic Lithuanians with the Narbuts surname in countries around the world, especially those with large populations of Lithuanian immigrants, including Russia, the United States, and Canada.
The Narbuts name is derived from the Lithuanian word 'Narbutas', meaning 'wolf', and was likely originally bestowed on Lithuanian families as a nickname based on one of its likely original meaning as 'wolf-like' or 'cunning'. The Narbuts name survived throughout the centuries, passed down down from generation to generation as more Lithuanians emigrated to sects of the world.
In the United States, the latest research states that the Narbuts last name is found most in Illinois, Michigan, and California. It’s also reasonably common in Missouri, New York, and Massachusetts. The Canadian government data puts the Narbuts name as the most commonly found in Ontario and Quebec.
The surname Narbuts is part of Lithuanian history and culture, and although it may not be the most frequently observed surname in the world today, it carries within it a rich heritage and traditions of the Lithuanian people. Although associated with Lithuania, the Narbuts name is found in countries around the world, symbolic of the strength and resilience of the already established Lithuanian diaspora.
Variations of the surname Narbuts
The surname Narbuts is derived from the Polish surname Narbut, and is likely a variation of the Germanic surname Narbutt, which was derived from the old German personal name Arnold.
Variations of the surname Narbuts include Narbut, Narbuci, Narbuch, Narbuth, Narbutt, Narbutte, Narbutz, and Narbutt. It is also sometimes spelled as Narbus, Narbux, Narbos, Narbaux, Narboz or Narbouz.
In Latvia, the surname may take a slightly different form, such as Narbuts or Narbudz. Alternatively, it may be written as Narbutovs or Narbudovs.
In Lithuania, the surname is spelled Narbutas, Narbutis, Nerputas or Nerputis. It may also sometimes be seen spelled as Narbats, Nerbats, Nerbatsas, or Nerputes.
In Belarus, the origin of the surname is likely to be Russian, and the spelling may vary, such as Narbuch, Narbucho or Narbukh.
In the United States, the two main spellings of the surname are Narbuts and Narbutt.
No matter what spelling of the surname is used, all forms of the surname Narbuts are likely derived from the Polish surname Narbut.
Famous people with the name Narbuts
- Alexander Narbut: 19th century Ukrainian scholar who specialized in Old Slavonic philology and literature.
- Vladimir Narbut: 20th century Soviet-Russian poet.
- Oleg Narbut: Russian painter, graphic artist, scenographer, and art theorist active in the first half of the 20th century.
- Christo Narbut: Russian graphic artist and subject of the movie “The Last Master of the Art of Narbuts”.
- Andrey Narbut: Ukrainian artist and proponent of suprematism who lived and worked in Moscow.
- Maria Narbut: Ukrainian folk artist and author of numerous embroidery pattern books.
- Maxim Narbut: contemporary Russian abstract artist.
- Anton Narbut: a Soviet poet and journalist who was active during the Revolutionary period.
- Ivan Narbut: a Soviet painter and master of Ukrainian-style painting active in the early-mid 20th century.