Sebald, Siegbald

• Origin: German
• Meaning: “bold victory.”
• Gender: Male

Sebald is a German masculine name derived from the Old High German name Siegbald, composed of the Germanic elements sigu (“victory”) and bald (“bold, brave”).

The name was borne by Saint Sebald of Nuremberg, a hermit and missionary whose historical identity and dates remain uncertain. Later traditions variously describe him as Anglo-Saxon, Danish or Frankish and place him between the 8th and 11th centuries. His cult is documented in Nuremberg by the late 11th century, and he became the city’s patron saint.

Veneration of the saint made Sebald especially popular in medieval Franconia. Its association with Nuremberg became so strong that, in 1575, the satirist Johann Fischart jokingly remarked that all Nurembergers were named Sebald. The name declined after the 18th century and is now considered archaic in German-speaking countries. Its designated name day is August 19.

Other forms and usage include:

• Sebald (Dutch, Polish)
• Sebaldus (Dutch, German)
• Sibod (Frisian)
• Szebáld (Hungarian)
• Sigurbaldur (Icelandic)

A notable bearers was 16th-century printmaker, Sebald Behman (1500-1550).

Sources

• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebald
• https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Siegbald
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebald_(imi%C4%99)
• https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szeb%C3%A1ld