820 DEBOLD members around the world

DEBOLD Family History

This unusual surname is of French derivation. It was introduced by the Normans after the 1066 invasion, but in fact the true origin is much older, and maybe pre-Christian. It has two possible derivations, the first from the Roman (Latin) 'debil-is', which seems to have been a metonymic for a doctor or healer, one who dealt with the sick. The literal translation is 'poorly or weak', whilst the second possible origin according to the eminent Victorian etymologist Canon C W Bardsley, was a nickname derivation from the old French 'Theodore' to Tibald and Tibble or Dibble, Deble etc.