PROBERT
Probert is a surname of both Welsh and Germanic provenance. The name is a patronymic form of the personal name Robert, itself derived from the Old Germanic element Hrodebert, meaning either bright fame or renowned in battle. In the Welsh language the surname is formed from the prefix ap or ab, meaning “son of”, joined to Robert; thus it literally denotes “son of Robert”. The surname is historically associated with the British Isles, especially Wales and England, and it has been recorded in church registers and legal documents since the Middle Ages.
Spelling variations of the name are numerous and date back to the pre-7th century Old English period and later to Welsh use. Recorded forms include Probart, Probertt, Probat, Probet, Probatts, Probate, and Probetts, among others. Early documentary evidence shows that the surname was used in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when both the personal names Robert and Bartholomew became fashionable. The name Bartholomew is biblical and means “farmhand”, and in some instances the surname may have arisen from a short form of this name, Batt, as well as from Robert. Church registers from the Diocese of Greater London provide a sequence of examples: Thomas Uprobarte (d. 1540, St. Antholin's, London), Lucy Probatts (m. 1612, St Brides, Fleet Street), James Probate (c. 1690, St Mary-le-Bone), Humphrey Probet (m. 1698, St Mary Lothbury), Esther Probate (c. 1769, St Lukes, Finsbury), and Joseph Probert (m. 1792, St. George's, Hanover Square). The earliest extant record of the surname is that of Philip ab Robert, dated 1250 in the ancient deeds of Hertfordshire, during the reign of King Henry the Eleventh (1216‑1272).
In the heraldic and genealogical studies of Wales and England, the surname Probert is frequently cited as an example of a patronymic name that has persisted through centuries while preserving its original meaning. Its usage illustrates the interaction between Celtic naming traditions and Germanic personal names within the wider culture of the British Isles. Consequently, descendants bearing the name are cognate with a lineage that stretches back to the early medieval period, reflecting both linguistic heritage and the social practise of identifying individuals by their paternal line.
Typical given names associated with the Probert surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Janet
- Joanne
- Julie
- Linda
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Probert in...
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Probert are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Pink wafer.
There are approximately 5,480 people named Probert in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,732nd most common surname in Britain. Around 84 in a million people in Britain are named Probert.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Famous people named Probert
- Lee Probert - Football referee
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.