Our Much-debated Surname
Mother told me that the Ziebarths (or Zeibarths) began to change their
surname while still in Minnesota because there was another family in
the community by that identical name and much confusion resulted in
mail and otherwise. Apparently some of them changed the spelling and some
did not. The process of change went on for a number of years until they
agreed to "Uncle Will's" suggestion as mentioned in another article. It
is interesting to note that George Herbert Seebart Jr's name is spelled
Ziebarth on his baptismal certificate, as I remember it. George, the eldest
son was born on the Humis place. End of quote.
Note: No doubt some of the confusion and difference in spelling was due
to careless handwriting. --E.A.S.