Hildebrand (surname)

The surname Hildebrand is of Germanic origin. It is a compound name derived from the Old High German elements hild meaning "battle" or "war," and brand meaning "sword" or "firebrand." Thus, the name can be interpreted as "battle sword," "battle fire," or "war sword."

The name was popular throughout medieval Germany and other parts of Europe and can be found in various spellings, including Hildebrandt, Hillebrand, and Illebrand. It appears in early Germanic legends and literature, most notably in the Old High German Hildebrandslied, an epic poem fragment.

The surname spread through migration and settlement across Europe, including into England, where it sometimes underwent anglicization. Today, individuals bearing the Hildebrand surname and its variants can be found worldwide.

The surname is generally understood to be an occupational or descriptive name, possibly referring to a skilled warrior or swordsmith. It also could have been a given name that later became a hereditary surname.