Colbert is an English and French surname and given name of uncertain

etymology Etymology () The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words ...

. It is possible that it appeared independently several times throughout history. The name is recorded in England in the 11th century Domesday Book in Devon, Cheshire, and Lincolnshire. This English surname was originally a given name that may have meant "cool" and "bright"; see also Bert. The name is common in English-speaking countries, particularly Ireland, but some of these families may have their origin in France, where the name is very common, and may perhaps be descendants of

Huguenot The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Bez ...

refugees. The French name perhaps has a different origin, but some linguists say it has the same origin from the Germanic words ''kol'' ("cool") and ''berht'' ("bright"). It is recorded in the French province of

Champagne Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...

in the 15th century, where, some suggest, it is a reduced form of "Colibert", which is also attested in medieval Champagne. "Colibert" was originally a contraction of the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power ...

' ("fellow

freedman A freedman or freedwoman is a formerly enslaved person who has been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, enslaved people were freed by manumission (granted freedom by their captor-owners), emancipation (granted freedom ...

", i.e. "fellow freed

slave Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

"). It may, however, derive from an unattested Germanic given name *Colberht, or a

gallicize Francization (in American English, Canadian English, and Oxford English) or Francisation (in other British English), Frenchification, or Gallicization is the expansion of French language use—either through willful adoption or coercion—by mo ...

d form of the

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium ...

surname Koelbert. This in turn derives from a given name mentioned as Colobert in the 7th century.

Albert Dauzat Albert Dauzat (; 4 July 1877 – 31 October 1955) was a French linguist specializing in toponymy and onomastics. Dauzat, a student of Jules Gilliéron, was a director of studies at the École des hautes études École may refer to: * an element ...

, ''Noms et prénoms de France'', Librairie Larousse 1980, édition revue et commentée par

Marie-Thérèse Morlet Marie-Thérèse Morlet (Guise, Aisne, November 18, 1913 - July 9, 2005) was a French scholar (specialist in onomastics) and honorary director of research at CNRS. Her publications include ''Dictionnaire étymologique des noms de famille'' (''Etym ...

. p. 140b.

List of people

Surname

A–E

* Adrian Colbert (born 1993), American football player *

Anthony Colbert Anthony Colbert (1934–2007) was a British illustrator and painter. Born in Newport, Isle of Wight on 17 July 1934, he grew up in Littlehampton, West Sussex, and studied at Worthing College of Art, and, during his National service, at Farnha ...

(1934–2007), British illustrator and painter * Benjamin Colbert (born 1961), British-based American academic *

Brad Colbert Brad Colbert (born July 25, 1974) is a former active duty United States Marine, whose platoon's role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq was featured in a series of articles in ''Rolling Stone'' by Evan Wright. Wright was an embedded reporter who rode ...

(born 1974), United States Marine and subject of ''Generation Kill'' * Burwell Colbert (1783–c.1850), American slave of

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the nati ...

who was held in high esteem by Jefferson as a "faithful servant" who was "absolutely excepted from the whip" and served as butler, personal valet, glazier, and painter at

Monticello Monticello ( ) was the primary plantation of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who began designing Monticello after inheriting land from his father at age 26. Located just outside Charlottesville, V ...

* Charles Colbert, marquis de Croissy (1625–1696), French diplomat, brother of Jean-Baptiste Colbert * Charlotte Colbert, Franco-British multi-media artist * Chunk Colbert (died 1874), American Old West gunman *

Claudette Colbert Claudette Colbert ( ; born Émilie Claudette Chauchoin; September 13, 1903July 30, 1996) was an American actress. Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the late 1920s and progressed to films with the advent of talking pictur ...

(1903–1996), Oscar-winning French-American actress *

Cleveland Colbert Cleveland Moland Colbert (October 6, 1906–January 23, 1962) was an African American 20th-century community organizer, political candidate, and author. Colbert served as the president of the Afro American National Economical Society (AANES) in the ...

(1906–1962), African American politician and activist *

Con Colbert Cornelius Bernard Colbert ( ga, Conchúir Ó Colbáird; 19 October 1888 – 8 May 1916)D.J. Hickey & J. E. Doherty, ''A New Dictionary of Irish History from 1800'', Gill & MacMillan (Dublin), , Pg.75 was an Irish rebel and pioneer of Fianna Éir ...

(1896–1916), Irish rebel * Craig Colbert (born 1965), American baseball player * Danny Colbert (born 1950), American football player * Darrell Colbert (born 1964), American football player *

Edwin H. Colbert Edwin Harris "Ned" Colbert (September 28, 1905 – November 15, 2001)O'Connor, Anahad ''The New York Times'', November 25, 2001. was a distinguished American vertebrate paleontologist and prolific researcher and author. Born in Clarinda, Iowa, h ...

(1905–2001), American vertebrate paleontologist * Elizabeth Colbert Busch (born 1954), American politician

F–M

* George Colbert (''c.'' 1764–1839), also known as ''Tootemastubbea'', leader of the Chickasaw, soldier and a plantation owner in Mississippi * Gregory Colbert (born 1960), Canadian photographer and filmmaker * Holmes Colbert (''fl.'' 1812–1850s), developer of the Chickasaw Nation's constitution in the 1850s *

J. Frank Colbert Jefferson Franklin Colbert, known as J. Frank Colbert (May 28, 1882 – May 20, 1949), was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic politician and Georgism, Georgist based in Webster Parish, Louisiana. He served in the Louisiana State ...

(1882-1949), Louisiana politician *

Jacques-Nicolas Colbert Jacques-Nicolas Colbert (14 February 1655, in Paris – 10 December 1707, in Paris) was a French churchman. Youngest son of Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert, he was educated for a career in the church, tutored by Noël Alexandre, a Dominican the ...

(1655–1707), French churchman, son of Jean-Baptiste Colbert *

James Colbert James Colbert (3 January 1890 – 28 January 1970) was an Irish politician and farmer. Early life Born in the townland of Moanleana, Castlemahon, County Limerick, he was the son of Michael Colbert, a farmer, and Honora McDermott. An older brot ...

(1890–1970), Irish politician and farmer *

James William Colbert Jr. James William Colbert Jr. (December 15, 1920 – September 11, 1974) was an American physician and the first vice president of academic affairs at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), serving in this capacity from 1969 until his death ...

(1920–1974), American physician and father of

Stephen Colbert Stephen Tyrone Colbert ( ; born May 13, 1964) is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He is best known for hosting the satirical Comedy Central program '' The Colbert Report'' from 2005 t ...

Jean-Baptiste Colbert Jean-Baptiste Colbert (; 29 August 1619 – 6 September 1683) was a French statesman who served as First Minister of State from 1661 until his death in 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His lasting impact on the organization of the countr ...

(1619–1683), an important Comptroller-General of Finances under the French king Louis XIV *

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay Jean-Baptiste Antoine Colbert, Marquis de Seignelay (1 November 1651 – 3 November 1690) was a French politician. He was the eldest son of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, nephew of Charles Colbert de Croissy and cousin of Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torc ...

(1651–1690), called ''Seignelay'', French politician, son of Jean-Baptiste Colbert *

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquess of Torcy Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Marquess of Torcy (14 September 1665 – 2 September 1746), generally called Colbert de Torcy, was a French diplomat, who negotiated some of the most important treaties towards the end of Louis XIV's reign, notably the ...

(1665–1746), French diplomat who negotiated important treaties *

Jim Colbert James Joseph Colbert (born March 9, 1941) is an American professional golfer. Colbert was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Kansas State University, where he finished second in the NCAA golf championships in 1964, before graduating ...

(born 1941), American golfer * John Colbert (1946–2011), birth name of American singer J. Blackfoot *

Keary Colbert Patrick Keary Jerel Colbert (born May 21, 1982) is an American football coach and former player who is currently the wide receivers coach at the University of Florida. Colbert played as a wide receiver and was drafted by the Carolina Panthe ...

(born 1982), American football player *

Kevin Colbert Kevin Colbert (; born January 1957) is a former American football executive. He served as the general manager of Pittsburgh Steelers from 2000 to 2021. Colbert is widely credited with putting together the Super Bowl XL and the Super Bowl XLI ...

(born 1957), American football general manager * Lehmon Colbert (born 1988), American professional basketball player *

Leigh Colbert Leigh Colbert (born 7 June 1975) is a former Australian rules footballer for the Geelong Football Club and the Kangaroos in the Australian Football League (AFL). AFL career 1993–1999: Geelong He made his debut with Geelong in 1993 an ...

(born 1975), Australian rules footballer *

Leo Otis Colbert Rear Admiral Leo Otis Colbert (31 December 1883 – 24 December 1968) was the third director of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and a career officer in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, predecessor of the National Oce ...

(1883–1968), American admiral, third Director of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps * Levi Colbert (1759–1834), also known as ''Itawamba'', leader and chief of the Chickasaw in the American Southeast *

Michael Colbert Michael Brendan Colbert (9 July 1899 – 1 April 1959) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was born in the townland of Templeathea, in Athea, County Limerick, to William Colbert, a farmer, and Nora Danaher. A farmer and horse breeder ...

(1900–1959), Irish politician *

Michael B. Colbert Michael B. Colbert is the director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), a $20-plus billion agency with nearly 4,000 employees. ODJFS is the largest agency in the state and is responsible for supervising the state's public assis ...

, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

N–Z

Nate Colbert Nathan Colbert Jr. (April 9, 1946 – January 5, 2023) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1966 to 1976, most prominently as a member of the newly formed San Diego Padre ...

(born 1946), American baseball player * Patrick Colbert (1842–1877), Irish soldier who served in the United States Navy during the American Civil War * Pierre David de Colbert-Chabanais (1774–1853), Napoleonic French Baron and leader of the Red Lancers * Philip Colbert, British artist and fashion designer *

Richard Colbert Richard Colbert is an American former prolific spammer based in Miami, Florida, in an area known as "Spam Beach". He would obtain clients' email addresses by searching AOL member profiles for any including phrases such as "business opportunity ...

, American spammer * Richard G. Colbert (1915-1973), four-star admiral, U.S. Navy * Robert Colbert (born 1931), American television actor and star of ''The Time Tunnel'' *

Serge Colbert Serge Colbert (born 16 June 1972) is an American composer. He is best known for the film scores for action and thriller films like ''The Body''http://www.sonymoviechannel.com/movies/body and '' Derailed''. He has also composed the music for a nu ...

(born 1972), American composer *

(born 1964), American satirist and entertainer, host of ''

The Colbert Report ''The Colbert Report'' ( ) is an American late-night talk and news satire television program hosted by Stephen Colbert that aired four days a week on Comedy Central from October 17, 2005, to December 18, 2014, for 1,447 episodes. The show focu ...

'' and ''

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ''The Late Show with Stephen Colbert'' is an American late-night news and liberal political satire talk show hosted by Stephen Colbert, which premiered on September 8, 2015. Produced by Spartina Productions and CBS Studios, it is the second ite ...

'' *

Thomas J. Colbert Thomas J. Colbert is an American consultant, writer, producer and former media executive. He is the co-author of ''The Last Master Outlaw'', a book that documents his five-year cold case investigation of D. B. Cooper suspect Robert Rackstraw. Th ...

(born 1957), American consultant, writer, producer and former media executive *

Tom Colbert Tom Colbert (born December 30, 1949) is a former Associate Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. He was appointed to the Court's District 6 seat in 2004, by Governor Brad Henry, becoming the first African-American to serve on the court. On Janua ...

(born 1949), American judge *

Vince Colbert Vincent Norman Colbert (born December 20, 1945) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in 95 total games, 74 as a relief pitcher, for the Cleveland Indians from 1970 to 1972. Born in Washington, D.C., he threw and batted ...

(born 1945), American baseball player *

Will Colbert Will Colbert (born February 6, 1985, in Arnprior, Ontario) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. For the 2013–14 season he was signed by the Tilburg Trappers of Netherlands' Eredivisie league. Previously he played for th ...

(born 1985), Canadian ice hockey player

Given name

Colbert Clark Colbert Clark (August 31, 1898 – May 4, 1960) was an American screenwriter, film director and film producer. He particularly specialized in making western films.Tuska p.196 As a producer at Columbia Pictures, Clark was responsible for resumin ...

(1898–1960), American screenwriter, film director and film producer *

Colbert Coldwell Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC is an American real estate franchise owned by Anywhere Real Estate, with headquarters in Madison, New Jersey. It was founded in 1906 in San Francisco, and has approximately 3000 offices in 49 countries and ter ...

, American founder of ''Coldwell Banker'' real estate company * Colbert I. King (born 1939), American journalist * Colbert Marlot (born 1963), French professional footballer * Colbert Searles (1873–1947), American football coach

Characters

Stephen Colbert (character) The Reverend Sir Dr. Stephen T. Mos Def Colbert D.F.A., Heavyweight Champion of the World, or Stephen Colbert, is the fictionalized persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, as portrayed on the Comedy Central series '' The Daily Show'' and ...

, fictionalized persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert * Will Colbert (Friends character), character on ''Friends'' portrayed by

Brad Pitt William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. He is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. ...

References

{{given name French-language surnames Surnames of Irish origin

List of people

Surname

A–E

F–M

N–Z

Given name

Characters

See also

References