The surname Emberger is of German origin and has two possible roots. One origin is from the Middle High German word "ember," meaning amber, a semiprecious stone, and was given as an occupational name for a worker in amber or a metonymic occupational name for a jeweler who dealt with amber.
The second origin is from the Old High German word "emburg," meaning fortress on a high or prominent hill. This could have been a topographic name for someone who lived near such a place, or it could be an habitational name from any of several places called Emberg, Emburg, or Amberg in Germany.
The surname is also found in France and Switzerland due to migration and assimilation over the centuries.
Learn more about the origin of the last name Emberger
The meaning and origin of the last name Emberger
The surname Emberger is of Swiss-German origin, specifically from the region of Aargau in Switzerland. It is derived from a topographical name for someone who lived by an embankment or dam, from Middle High German "embärg" meaning dam or embankment. This surname is also found in other German-speaking regions and has been adopted by people in other countries due to migration and historical events. In some cases, variations like Emberger, Embacher, Emmerger, etc., might appear due to transcription errors or regional dialects. The name became more common during the Middle Ages as populations began to settle and establish permanent communities, leading to the development of hereditary surnames.
Geographical distribution of the last name Emberger
The surname Emberger has a primary concentration in Switzerland, particularly in the German-speaking cantons such as Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, and Zürich. This can be attributed to its Swiss German origins. It is also found in neighboring regions like southwestern Germany and Alsace, France, due to historical migration patterns. Outside Europe, there are populations with the Emberger surname in North America, particularly in the United States, primarily due to Swiss immigration during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Smaller communities can be found in Australia, Argentina, and Brazil as a result of global migrations.
Variants and spellings of the last name Emberger
The surname Emberger has several variations and spellings due to differences in transcription and translation over time. Some common variants include Embergier, Embiger, Emberger, Emburger, and Eimburger. These variations may arise from slight phonetic changes, regional dialects, or mistakes in record-keeping. Additionally, the name may have been altered due to migration, as families sometimes Anglicized their names when settling in English-speaking countries. It is important to note that these variants might not necessarily be related to each other but share a common root, which could be Ember or Embere.
Famous people with the last name Emberger
Notable individuals with the surname Emberger include:
1. Richard A. Emberger (born 1946), an American politician and activist who served as the President of California Right to Life from 1982 to 2011.
2. Lukas Emberger (born 1997), a Swiss freestyle skier who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
3. Ernst Emberger (1925-2014), a Swiss architect known for his modernist designs and buildings throughout Switzerland, including the headquarters of Swiss bank UBS in Zurich.
4. Charles Louis Emberger (1860-1937), a Swiss painter who specialized in watercolors and landscapes. His work is held by numerous museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
5. David Emberger (born 1942), a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played for teams such as the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens between 1963 and 1976.
Genealogical research on the last name Emberger
The surname Emberger is of German origin and is believed to have derived from various places named "Emberg" or similar variations found in several regions of Germany. The earliest known record of this family was Johannes de Embirch, who lived during the late 13th century in Swabia, Germany. Over time, spelling variations such as Emberger, Embiger, and Emmerger emerged due to differences in transliteration, religious transcription, and regional dialects. The family expanded across Europe throughout the Middle Ages, with notable branches settling in Switzerland, France, Austria, and later immigrating to North America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Notable individuals bearing this name include Swiss painter Albert Emberger (1920-2004) and French politician Jean-Louis Emberger (born 1935).
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
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