Last name: Eby

This interesting surname with variant spellings Ebi, Eby, Eb(er)lein, Eberle, etc., is a diminutive of the Germanic personal name "Everard". The component elements of the given name are "eber" meaning wild boar plus "hard" brave, hardy, or strong. The surname is first recorded in Germany in the early 16th Century, (see below). The marriage of Sebolt Eble and Barbara Werber took place on February 2nd 1609, at Ettenheim, Freiburg, Baden, Germany, and Andreas, son of Sebolt and Barbara Eble, was christened on March 14th 1613, at the same place. A coat of arms granted to the Eble family of Paris is recorded heraldically in "Rietstap's Armorial General". It consists of a quartered shield with a gold cross overall, in the 1st quarter there is gold corn on a blue field, the second and third quarters depict swords in saltire on a red field and in the fourth quarter there is a gold lion rampant on a blue field. The definitions of the armorial colours are; gold-denotes generosity and elevation; blue - signifies loyalty and truth; and red - denotes military fortitude and magnanimity. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jacob Ebels, married, which was dated 1525, in Lengefelt, Chemnitz, Sachsen, Germany, during the reign of King Charles V, known as "The Habsburg Emperor", 1519 - 1558. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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Derek Eby
Don't want to say that's WRONG, but it's not the only origin. Most Ebys are actually from the Swiss-German surname Aebi. Never heard of this Everard crap, and neither has any of my family. Other internet searches also make this seem far-fetched....

Richard Eby
@Derek Eby- yes because I've been trying to find out my families origin but I can't find anything useful except all I was told is that it is German.

David Eby
In Ezra Eby's book concerning the history of the Eby name, his conclusion was that the EBY name appeared in the southern Germany, northern Switzerland. The Eby's were involved or leaders of the sect called the "Ebionites". "Ebyionites", and were to be exterminated under popish orders as heretics to the a Catholic religion so they escaped from the Po valley in northern Italy around a 1000 AD. That is as far back as I have been able to find.

Nancy Eby

Well, suffice it to say that I'm sure we're all related, lol. It is my understanding, of my 'clan' that we arrived from Switzerland to Pennsylvania with William Penn and that our original surname was Eberle. I find it unfortunate that those who research specific family trees aren't interested in the females. I'm a proud Eby and have gone back to my maiden name after divorce. I too would like to know my roots.