| Leiby |
My Grandfather was Prussian and lived in a German community in Pennsylvania until his death. His last name was Leiby, but I can't find much reference to this name outside of the United States. Was this purhaps an Americanized version - it's fairly common in the Pennsylvania Dutch community. |
| Mānts |
Welcome to the Prussian forum, dear Leiby. But sorry, I have nor did find any information on your surname. Are you sure that your ancestor was Baltic Prussian? |
| Nādwisjan |
Ancestry.com gives ''Leiby'' as an ''Americanized spelling of German Liebe or Liebig'', although that strikes me as awful (I don't know if you speak German or not, but ''ie'' and ''ei'' are two completely opposite sounds in German). Even if it is ''Liebe'', that may in turn be a German-ification of a Prussian word (for example ''Alnasteine'' became ''Allenstein'' to the Germans). I do think it's an Americanised or Germanised spelling, though. Incidently do you know for sure if Leiby was of Germanic blood, or if he was actually of native Prussian blood?
A brief inspection of a Prussian dictionary reveals that words that begin with ''Lab-'' usually mean ''good-'' or ''kind-'', for example : ''LABISKĀ'' - kindness; ''LABASEGĒSNAN'' - beneficence; ''LABAN'' - kindness; ''LABS'' - good; ''LABĀI'' - well. In terms of what the name means, it could etymologically come from that. But, please keep in mind that I joined the forum a grand total of one day ago myself. I don't speak Prussian, and I'm here to learn too. :-p. Also, ''LĪDĒ'', which, to the best of my understanding of Prussian pronounciation, sounds similar to ''Leiby'', means ''pike'' in Prussian.
That's most all of what I know; hope it helps. I'll be sure to let you know if I think of or come across any other information. |
| Glabbis |
When i just saw this name Leiby, i just thought that maybe it's Americanized spelling of Germanized Lithuanian name Liepa. Though now i doubt that it could be true. |
| Leiby |
Aye, there has been a lot of wondering about this name. I really have not heard reference of it outside of the U.S. I know that my mother definately said grandfather was East Prussian - her mother was Bavarian (Deffenderfer) and so there was that distinction between them. I do know a little German and I know that ei and ie are very different pronunciations - though my father insists that since the name can't be found, it must be just a messed up version of Liebe. I really don't know what to think, purhaps that spelling of ''LĪDĒ'' could be it - it's really so hard to pinpoint things when they've been changed so long ago - I don't even know when that part of the family came here. They were part of a Mennonite migration from Prussia, though.
Thanks, everybody for helping me! |
| Nērtiks |
LeibyI do know a little German and I know that ei and ie are very different pronunciations
Yes, "ei" You read as english "I", and "ie" You read as english "ee"
LeibyThey were part of a Mennonite migration from Prussia, though
Mennonites were Dutch people. Maybe Your family is of Dutch origin? |