Meaning & History
Alberic is a variant of the Old German name Alberich, itself derived from the elements alb ("elf") and rih ("ruler, king"), thus meaning roughly "elf-ruler."
Historical Bearers
The name was borne by two prominent Lombard dukes of Spoleto in the 10th century: Alberic I (died c. 925) and his son Alberic II (912–954), who later became the de facto ruler of Rome. A later notable bearer was Alberic of Cîteaux, a 12th-century French saint who helped found the Cistercian Order; his feast day is celebrated on January 26. The form Alberic also appears in continental European contexts, while its learned Latinized form was widely used in medieval chronicles.
Mythological Connections
In Germanic mythology, Alberich is a sorcerer dwarf who guards the treasure of the Nibelungen in the medieval German epic the Nibelungenlied. He also appears in Ortnit as a helper to the hero. This legendary figure influenced later literary developments, notably giving rise to Auberon in the Carolingian cycle and thus to Oberon in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Variants
Alberic is the learned form of the name Aubrey, which is its English development. Other cognates include Anglo-Saxon Ælfric (also meaning "elf-ruler") and Italian Alberico.
- Meaning: Elf ruler
- Origin: Germanic
- Type: First name (masculine)
- Usage regions: Germanic-speaking Europe, medieval Latin
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Alberic